No congressional vote should be needed. It’s in the 14th Amendment: “The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law… shall not be questioned.” The debt ceiling law originated in 1917, and a vote WOULD be needed to repeal it, even though it contradicts the 14th Am. But there was no time to put the matter to the Supreme Court, as the limit was very close to being reached. And the current Supreme Court can’t be trusted for anything.
I sort of wonder about the car following behind them…