After a 181-year ban, Democrats in the House have the goal of leaving religious headdresses on the floor

Ilhan Omar, one of the first two Muslim women newly elected to Congress, is helping to launch an effort to allow the presence of religious headgear, such as hijabs or kippahs, at home.

The proposal would cancel a ban of 181 years on any type of headgear in the House.

Mark Vancleave / Star Tribune via AP

Omar, a Democrat from Minnesota, said on Twitter that wearing the religious headscarf was his right to the first amendment.

Omar,, could be one of the first federal representatives to wear religious headwear in Congress. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan joined her as one of the first two Muslim women representing their Capitol Hill districts.

The rule change was proposed last week by Nancy Pelosi following a historic wave of various legislators elected to Congress. Pelosi, who wants to return to her position as Speaker, is working with ranking members Jim McGovern and Omar.

The change would "ensure religious expression" by "specifying in the rules that the wearing of religious headgear is permitted in the House Chamber", according to the proposal.

The proposed settlement of the House is part of a Democratic deployment aimed at restoring "inclusion and diversity". Democrats also want to create an independent diversity office charged with "facilitating the establishment of a diverse workforce composed of qualified and representative candidates from our members" and their districts, as well as an amendment to the rules of the Chamber aimed at "clearly prohibiting discrimination based on sexual identification and gender identity."

Prior to her mid-term victory, Omar marked the history of Minnesota when she was elected to the State House in 2016 as the first US legislator of Somali origin.

The current rules were adopted in the 1800s without much debate, and the wording was finally changed to read, "All members remain uncovered during House sessions". The British Parliament used to wear a hat during the sessions.

The new proposals, if approved, will come into effect in January with the start of the 2019 legislative session.