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Senate passes US debt ceiling deal, averting a US default | |
(about 8 hours later) | |
The US Congress has approved a deal to lift the country's borrowing limit, days before the world's largest economy is due to default on its debt. | The US Congress has approved a deal to lift the country's borrowing limit, days before the world's largest economy is due to default on its debt. |
The bipartisan measure sped through the Senate by a vote of 63-36, a day after it cleared the US House of Representatives. | The bipartisan measure sped through the Senate by a vote of 63-36, a day after it cleared the US House of Representatives. |
President Joe Biden has said he will enact the measure into law. | President Joe Biden has said he will enact the measure into law. |
His signature on the bill will spare the US from a catastrophic default on its $31.4tn (£25tn) debt. | His signature on the bill will spare the US from a catastrophic default on its $31.4tn (£25tn) debt. |
The country is forecast to overshoot its current debt ceiling on Monday 5 June. | The country is forecast to overshoot its current debt ceiling on Monday 5 June. |
What's in US debt ceiling deal and who won? | What's in US debt ceiling deal and who won? |
A simple guide to the US debt ceiling | A simple guide to the US debt ceiling |
A default would limit the government's ability to borrow more money or pay all of its bills. It would also threaten to wreak havoc overseas, affecting prices and mortgage rates in other countries. | A default would limit the government's ability to borrow more money or pay all of its bills. It would also threaten to wreak havoc overseas, affecting prices and mortgage rates in other countries. |
In Thursday night's session, the bill passed with support from 44 Democrats and 17 Republicans, plus two independents. | In Thursday night's session, the bill passed with support from 44 Democrats and 17 Republicans, plus two independents. |
Sixty votes were required to approve the measure in a 100-seat chamber that Democrats only narrowly control. | Sixty votes were required to approve the measure in a 100-seat chamber that Democrats only narrowly control. |
Thirty-one Republicans were opposed, including a member of the party's leadership in the chamber, John Barrasso. | Thirty-one Republicans were opposed, including a member of the party's leadership in the chamber, John Barrasso. |
Democratic senators John Fetterman and Elizabeth Warren, plus Bernie Sanders who is independent, also voted against. | |
Senators first proposed 11 amendments to the debt ceiling bill, but they were all rejected in quick order, paving the way for a final vote. | Senators first proposed 11 amendments to the debt ceiling bill, but they were all rejected in quick order, paving the way for a final vote. |
If a single one of the amendments had passed, the whole bill would have had to be sent back to the House, leaving little time to ensure final passage of the measure before the US fell off a fiscal cliff. | If a single one of the amendments had passed, the whole bill would have had to be sent back to the House, leaving little time to ensure final passage of the measure before the US fell off a fiscal cliff. |
"America can breathe a sigh of relief, a sigh of relief because in this process we are avoiding default," Democratic Majority leader Chuck Schumer told the Senate. | "America can breathe a sigh of relief, a sigh of relief because in this process we are avoiding default," Democratic Majority leader Chuck Schumer told the Senate. |
In a rare display of bipartisanship, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell told reporters he would be "proud to support it without delay". | In a rare display of bipartisanship, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell told reporters he would be "proud to support it without delay". |
The deal had easily cleared the House of Representatives on Wednesday evening by a vote of 314-117. Some 165 Democrats joined 149 Republicans in approving it by the required simple majority. | |
Could a US debt default unleash global chaos? | Could a US debt default unleash global chaos? |
What Danes can teach the US about its debt crisis | What Danes can teach the US about its debt crisis |
With Republicans in control of the lower chamber of Congress, and Democrats in the Senate and White House, a deal proved elusive for weeks until Mr Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy inked a compromise last weekend. | |
The agreement suspends the debt ceiling, the spending limit set by Congress that determines how much money the government can borrow, until 1 January 2025. | The agreement suspends the debt ceiling, the spending limit set by Congress that determines how much money the government can borrow, until 1 January 2025. |
The legislation will result in $1.5tn in savings over a decade, the independent Congressional Budget Office said on Tuesday. | The legislation will result in $1.5tn in savings over a decade, the independent Congressional Budget Office said on Tuesday. |
The contents of the bill drew objections from both right-wing Republicans and left-wing Democrats, but there were more than enough political centrists in both parties to get it over the line. | The contents of the bill drew objections from both right-wing Republicans and left-wing Democrats, but there were more than enough political centrists in both parties to get it over the line. |
The last time the US came this close to overshooting its debt ceiling, in 2011, the credit agency Standard & Poor's downgraded the country's rating, a move that has yet to be reversed. | The last time the US came this close to overshooting its debt ceiling, in 2011, the credit agency Standard & Poor's downgraded the country's rating, a move that has yet to be reversed. |
Ahead of the Senate vote, US stock markets made gains, with the Dow closing 0.5% higher. The broader S&P 500 index rose by 1% and the tech-heavy Nasdaq ended the day 1.3% higher. | Ahead of the Senate vote, US stock markets made gains, with the Dow closing 0.5% higher. The broader S&P 500 index rose by 1% and the tech-heavy Nasdaq ended the day 1.3% higher. |
Related Topics | Related Topics |
US economy | US economy |
US politics | US politics |
US Congress | US Congress |
United States | United States |
United States Senate | United States Senate |
Joe Biden | Joe Biden |