House lawmakers on Tuesday passed a procedural bill allowing the Senate to raise the debt ceiling from 222-212, clearing the way for Democrats to continue without needing Republicans’ backing.

The bill now passes through the Senate, where at least 10 Republicans will have to join Democrats in voting for the procedure. From there, the Senate will vote to increase the debt ceiling by a fixed dollar amount, with passage obtainable by a simple majority vote.

“Once the Senate passes the debt ceiling lifting bill, the House will consider this bill and send it to the President,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a letter to Democratic lawmakers before the vote.

Only one Republican, Representative Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, voted for the House bill.

The procedural legislation stems from lengthy negotiations between Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-NY, and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. The bill also includes measures preventing cuts to health insurance programs.

The maneuver will allow Congress to avoid default while avoiding a partisan debate lasting several months. Republican lawmakers have said Democrats would have to raise the debt ceiling without their help, arguing that any suspension of the limit would make it easier to spend on expensive social and climate programs included in President Biden’s “Build Back Better Act.”

“I think we’ve found a solution to the debt ceiling problem here that is consistent with Republican views to raise the debt ceiling to that amount at this particular time and allows Democrats to proudly own it, which they’re happy to do it, ”McConnell told reporters earlier today.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, DN.Y., speaks to reporters as intense negotiations continue to salvage a bipartisan infrastructure deal, on Capitol Hill in Washington on Tuesday, July 27, 2021. ( AP Photo / J. Scott Applewhite) (AP Photo / J. Scott Applewhite / AP Newsroom)

The Senate is expected to vote on the procedural bill on Thursday. Both houses of Congress would then vote on the terms of the debt limit itself.

For Democrats, the procedural bill addresses the debt ceiling without resorting to the budget reconciliation process, which Schumer and other party leaders say would be too risky.

“Our goal has been to increase the debt limit. We want a simple majority without a complicated, risky, time-consuming process, and it looks like the Republicans will help us facilitate that, so we feel very good about our direction on the. debt ceiling, ”Schumer said.

Senatorial Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., Arrives on Capitol Hill in Washington on Wednesday, October 6, 2021, as a standoff looms with Democrats over raising the debt limit. (AP Photo / J. Scott Applewhite) (Associated press)

Last month, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen informed lawmakers that the federal government will hit its debt ceiling by December 15 without congressional action. Yellen and other senior economic officials have warned of catastrophic consequences if the United States defaults on debt obligations.

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In October, congressional lawmakers voted with the parties to approve a short-term solution that raised the borrowing limit by $ 480 billion.