The House on Thursday approved a Democratic rules package with just a few defections from progressives despite concerns on the left about the resolution’s “pay-as-you-go” provision.

The rules were approved by a largely party-line vote of 234-197. The House will take up two additional portions of the package in coming days.

Three Republicans, Reps. Tom Reed and John Katko of New York and Brian Fitzpatrick (Pa.) voted for the package. Three Democrats, Reps. Ro Khanna (Calif.), Tulsi Gabbard (Hawaii) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez(N.Y.) voted against it.

The architects of the package — which was unveiled by new Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Rules Committee Chairman Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) earlier this week — said it will promote diversity and help fight the deficit.

Under the new rules, lawmakers and House employees are barred from discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation. Members and staff are also be permitted to wear religious headgear in the House chamber. Read more via the Hill

Historic: House Rules Package Includes Gender Identity & Sexual Orientation Protections

HRC responded to the passage of a historic U.S. House rules package that bans discrimination on the basis of gender identity and sexual orientation for the first time ever. The package also ensures religious headgear can be worn in the House chamber.

“This is a historic moment for our country,” said HRC Government Affairs Director David Stacy. “For the first time ever, discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity will be banned in the House of Representatives. This action to protect LGBTQ congressional employees from discrimination is the result of millions of Equality Voters going to the polls in November to ensure their voices were heard and demanding a Congress that looks like America.”

The new rules package was adopted yesterday as a pro-equality majority was sworn into the U.S. House of Representatives. Speaker Pelosi has also announced that the Equality Act -- a bill to provide comprehensive federal protections for LGBTQ people and HRC’s top federal legislative priority -- will be a priority for the incoming Congress. Read more via HRC