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MPR
Ilhan Omar is breaking new ground in Congress. |
ASAM NEWS
ILHAN OMAR of Minnesota and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan are the first two Muslim women to ever be elected to Congress. When congresswoman-elect Ilhan Omar, who wears a hijab — a traditional headwear worn by some Muslim women — is sworn in, she will be the first federal legislator who wears a religious headscarf reports Roll Call.
Due to a 181-year-old ruling that bans hats of any kind from Congress, Democrats are working to accommodate Omar and propose a rule change that will allow religious headwear on the House floor.
The Washington Post reports that the proposal, by Omar, Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and Incoming Rules Chairman Jim McGovern, is part of the House Democrats rules package entitled “New Congress, New Rules” to emphasize diversity and inclusion. In a summary draft list published by The Post, the document says:
“Public servants working for the People’s House should reflect the faces of America. The Democratic rules package will provide an opportunity for all Americans to be included in this great institution”.
The Democrats working to alter this headwear ban serves as an explicit announcement that Muslim Americans, and other individuals who may wear a yarmulk, a dastaar, or other religious garbs, will always be allowed in Congress. Omar, tweeted last weekend, “No one puts a scarf on my head but me. It’s my choice—one protected by the first amendment.” She adds, “And this is not the last ban I’m going to work to lift,” reports CBS News.
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