The U.S. House of Representatives has voted against President Barack Obama’s plan to raise the nation’s debt limit by $1.2 trillion, in a largely symbolic vote.

Lawmakers voted 239 -176 Wednesday in favor of the “resolution of disapproval.” The vote allowed Republicans to publicly show their opposition to the increase, however it will not stop the president from raising the debt ceiling.

Last year, Congress gave Mr. Obama the authority to increase the country’s legal borrowing limit by this amount. It was part of the deal that ended last year’s prolonged battle over the country’s debt that brought the United States close to defaulting on its loans.

The Democrat-controlled Senate is unlikely to pass the disapproval measure.

The debt limit would rise to $16.4 trillion with the request.