The Republican chairman of the House of Representatives' Rules Committee has pulled a real trick this week.

Rep. Pete Sessions introduced legislation that would recognize the practice of stage magic as a “rare and valuable art form and national treasure,” according to Deadline.com.

One of Sessions' constituents, Eric Hogue of Wylie, TX, has been pushing for the legislation.

All six sponsors of the bills are Republican, but want the effort to be seen as a bipartisan effort. And, it's not an empty gesture. Classifying magic as "art" will allow magicians to apply for grants of all kinds that usually are reserved for painters, musicians and those who make other kinds of theatre.

Magician David Copperfield was quoted saying, “The Society of American Magicians has been trying to get this legislation passed for decades, and it’s long overdue.”