Congress Approves Bill to Re-Open Federal Government, Raise Debt Ceiling

Congress has approved a bill to reopen the government and raise the debt ceiling until Feb. 7, and President Obama promised to sign the legislation immediately, meaning hundreds of thousands of federal workers could be back at work Thursday, the Washington Post reported Wednesday evening

The move came 16 days after the federal shutdown began and one day before the United States would have exhausted its ability to borrow money, the Post reported.

The New York Times headlined their reports: 

CONGRESS PASSES DEBT DEAL

Fiscal Impasse Ends; G.O.P. Backs Down

Congressional Republicans conceded defeat Oct. 16 in their bitter budget fight with Obama over his new health care law, agreeing to end the 16-day government shutdown and extend federal borrowing power, the Times reported.