The House and Senate passed bipartisan legislation this week to raise the debt ceiling with both President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) praising the compromise to avoid default.
The Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 cleared Congress with broad support in a 314 -117 vote in the House on Wednesday and a 63-36 vote in the Senate on Thursday. The legislation suspends the debt limit through January 2025, reduces budget deficits by $1.5 trillion over the decade, claws back certain funding for the IRS and unspent coronavirus funds, and expands work requirements for food assistance programs.
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Tucked in the legislation was language to fast-track the completion of the Mountain Valley Pipeline, a top priority for Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV). The expedited permitting process for the natural gas project drew the ire of Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA), who balked at not being consulted for a pipeline that runs through his state.
Kaine authored an amendment Thursday evening to strike the Mountain Valley Pipeline from the debt ceiling legislation, citing "my constituents’ deep concerns." His effort failed in a 30-69 vote, and Kaine ultimately voted in favor of the overall legislation.
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Here's a look at scenes from the debt ceiling debate during the week of May 29, 2023, captured by Washington Examiner photographer Graeme Jennings.
Kaine unsuccessfully tries to strike the Mountain Valley Pipeline from debt ceiling bill
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries says Biden prevented cuts proposed by 'right-wing extremists'
McCarthy gets majority of House GOP to back debt ceiling bill despite strong opposition from Freedom Caucus members
Biden said the bipartisan legislation averted a crisis and an 'economic collapse'
Office of Management and Budget Director Shalanda Young quips she ran out of clean clothes during debt ceiling talks
Sen. Mike Lee rejected the Fiscal Responsibility Act, saying 'McCarthy got played' by Biden