Here's How MA Members Of Congress Voted On Debt Ceiling

MASSACHUSETTS — The U.S. House on Wednesday evening approved a bill extending the debt ceiling through the end of 2024, with 117 representatives — 71 Republicans, 46 Democrats — voting against it.

The bill allows the U.S. to continue to pay its bills, but was also packed with other provisions hammered out during negotiations between Republicans and the White House in recent weeks. The $31.4 trillion debt limit will remain in place until Jan. 1, 2025.

The measure passed Wednesday also included provisions unpopular with more progressive representatives, like resuming federal student loan payments in August and extending work requirements for food assistance. Those items were why two members of Congress from Massachusetts — U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Worcester, and U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Boston — voted no.

"While I have consistently supported raising the debt ceiling, I could not in good conscience support a bill that takes food away from hungry people, forces borrowers back into our broken student loan system, and perpetuates environmental injustice," Pressley said in a tweet.

The bill does exempt groups like veterans, people leaving foster care and the homeless from new work requirements tied to food assistance.

The debt ceiling bill heads to the U.S. Senate on Thursday, giving U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey their chance to vote. Markey has already said he's a "no."

"I will not support a deal to fast-track dirty fossil fuel projects at the expense of environmental justice. I will not give polluters a Get Out of Jail Free card. I will vote NO on the default deal," Markey said.

All other Massachusetts members of Congress — Minority Whip Katherine Clark; Jake Auchincloss, D-Newton; Seth Moulton, D-Salem; Richard Neal, D-Pittsfield; Bill Keating, D-Plymouth; Lori Trahan, D-Lawrence; and Stephen Lynch, D-Braintree — voted for the debt ceiling measure.

"MAGA Republicans forced a lose-lose proposition onto the American people: devastating cuts or a devastating default. It’s clear they don’t care what happens to everyday families, as long as the GOP can keep playing its political games," Clark said in a news release. "There is no perfect negotiation when you’re the victim of extortion."

If it passes in the Senate, the bill will move to President Joe Biden's desk for a signature ahead of the Monday debt limit deadline.