News In Brief

Congress passes bill raising US line of credit

The Senate Friday gave final congressional approval to legislation raising the government's line of credit by $53 billion, a move that will push the national debt to $1.573 trillion by the end of August.

The Senate passed the measure in a matter of moments by voice vote and sent it to President Reagan for his signature. About an hour earlier, the House, on a 208-to-202 vote, approved the measure and reversed that chamber's decision of a day earlier.