Dems eye change in rules to allow religious headwear

Democrats are attempting to overhaul a centuries-old rule banning hats in an effort to accommodate lawmakers who wear religious headwear.

Hats have been banned from the House chamber for 181 years, but a new joint proposal from Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi (Calif.), likely Rules Committee Chairman Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) and Rep.-elect Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) is looking to change that, according to Roll Call.

Omar is the first Somali-American in Congress, and she and Michigan Rep.-elect Rashida Tlaib (D) will be the first Muslim women in Congress.

{mosads}Omar wears a headscarf, and without a rule change, that could pose a problem when the next session of Congress commences. Omar would be the first member of Congress to wear a religious headscarf.

That is why she co-authored the proposal, which accompanies a package of several other rule changes Democrats are seeking to implement next year.

Along with the proposal, Democrats are planning to create an independent diversity office, according to The Washington Post.