LAS VEGAS -- Protecting tourism hot spots like Las Vegas is the focus of new legislation on Capitol Hill.

Las Vegas is currently blacklisted, keeping federal employees from booking conferences and conventions in Sin City.

This bill will change that. It's called the Protecting Resort Cities from Discrimination Act of 2009.

Both Republicans and Democrats in the state say it's necessary because taxable sales are down, as are just about all other numbers associated with the Strip.

The two biggest agencies that have blacklisted Las Vegas are the Department of Justice and the Department of Agriculture. There are even guidelines saying employees should stay away from places that have resorts, spas and gambling.

It even suggests places to have conferences, like Chicago.

“We had reports of people wanting to come to Nevada to do a conference or convention cheap --all the facilities, all the amenities are there -- but they were afraid someone in the administration would criticize them, and they would go places that are four or five times more expensive," said Sen. Harry Reid.

Reid blames the Bush administration, who he said released two different memos warning not to bring people to Reno or Las Vegas.

Gov. Jim Gibbons said these bans are in part to blame for the $100 million budget gap in Nevada and said it's ridiculous that Nevada has to impose common sense on Washington.