U.S. House passes bill to reopen government, increase debt limit

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives late on Wednesday passed legislation to avoid a damaging default on government debt and to reopen federal agencies shuttered when funding ran out on October 1. The House vote came hours after the Senate overwhelmingly approved the bill. President Barack Obama earlier on Wednesday said he will promptly sign the bill into law. (Reporting By Richard Cowan and David Lawder; editing by Jackie Frank)