Congress moved Wednesday to end the government shutdown and prevent a possible default, as both the House and Senate approved a Senate agreement in separate bipartisan votes.

The House voted 285-144 in favor of the agreement, which funds the government until Jan. 15 and raises the debt ceiling until Feb. 7. That followed an 81-18 Senate vote. …

Just after the Senate vote, President Obama spoke briefly in the White and said he would sign the bill as soon as it leaves the House. …

The vote came just hours before the Oct. 17 deadline set by the Treasury Department for raising the borrowing limit.

“For more than two weeks, hard-working families, veterans, and federal workers have suffered due to partisan fights which cost our economy $300 million per day,” said Rep. Tulsi Gabbard. “I am relieved that we are finally moving forward today with a bipartisan agreement that will protect our economy and allow time for a larger agreement on a long-term budget and fiscal plan. People in Hawaii and across the country have been watching this circus for sixteen days.”

Photo: Inside the U.S. Capitol. (Civil Beat)

—Chad Blair