US House votes to avert default, setting up Senate showdown

The US House of Representatives voted to raise the federal debt limit, moving the country a step closer to eliminating the threat of a calamitous credit default -- just five days ahead of the deadline set by the Treasury. The deeply divided lower chamber of Congress voted 314 to 117 to suspend the borrowing cap through 2024, and the Senate is expected to follow suit before the end of the week.