[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 60 (Wednesday, April 25, 2012)]
[House]
[Page H2081]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       THE BLACKLISTING OF STATES

  (Ms. BERKLEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. BERKLEY. Madam Speaker, despite the fact that President Obama 
took swift action to punish those responsible for the outrageous abuse 
at the GSA, some in Washington, like the junior Senator from Kentucky, 
are looking to score cheap political points by attacking Las Vegas and 
Nevada's tourism industry.
  These Republicans are trying to bring back the last administration's 
so-called blacklist of resort cities like Las Vegas and Reno, 
prohibiting Federal agencies from traveling to Nevada to hold 
conferences and seminars. This policy has damaged the reputation of my 
State, hurt our economy, and killed jobs. Thanks to President Obama, 
this blacklist was lifted and discrimination against Las Vegas and Reno 
was ended.
  It's time that we make this policy permanent. That's why I'm going to 
introduce legislation to prohibit the blacklisting of any city in 
America. This means discrimination against cities like Las Vegas and 
Reno will be illegal.
  Las Vegas wasn't the problem; the irresponsible behavior of the GSA 
was.
  I urge my colleagues to stand up for jobs and join me in cosponsoring 
this legislation.

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