House Democrats are aiming to relax an 181-year-old ban on hats that’ll allow religious headwear — like a hijab or kippah — on the floor of the lower chamber.
The change was proposed jointly by Minority Leader Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., incoming rules chairman Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., and member-elect Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Roll Call reported Monday.
“No one puts a scarf on my head but me. It’s my choice — one protected by the first amendment,” Omar tweeted.
Omar will be the first Somali-American in Congress and the first woman of color to represent her state in Washington when the new Congress convenes in January. She’ll be joined by fellow Midwestern Democrat, Michigan’s Rashida Tlaib, as the first two Muslim women in Congress, Roll Call reported.
Hats of any kind have been banned from the House floor since 1837, but Democrats say they’ll add an exemption for religious headwear under a new package of rules changes, NBC News reported.
The language will also cover someone wearing a head covering due to illness and loss of hair.
"Democrats know that our strength lies in our diversity, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation or religion,” Pelosi said in a statement to NBC News. “After voters elected the most diverse Congress in history, clarifying the antiquated rule banning headwear will further show the remarkable progress we have made as a nation."
Added McGovern: “This change will finally codify that no restriction may be placed on a member’s ability to do the job they were elected to do simply because of their faith.”
"The American people just elected the most diverse Congress in history and our rules should embody that,” he said, NBC News reported.
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