Senator John Cornyn and Congressman Chip Roy of Texas are behind new legislation that would require proof of citizenship when someone registers to vote.
Senator Cornyn argued that the SAVE America Act is needed during speech this week on the Senate floor.
"You need identification to buy a car, to buy a phone, to get on an airplane, to open a bank account, to cash a check," Senator Cornyn said. "So, I find it hard to believe that any rational person would object to requiring a person to show that they are a citizen to vote in elections."
Congressman Roy is currently running in the republican primary for Texas Attorney General and Cornyn is locked in a neck-and-neck battle in the GOP primary to keep his Senate seat.
The Bipartisan Policy Center argues there are better ways to verify citizenship putting the responsibility on the government and not the voters.
The Center also says citizenship is already a requirement to vote, and instances of noncitizen voting are rare.
Still, Cornyn argues requiring proof should be federal law.
"In some states, people are not even required to show proof of citizenship at the time of registration," he said.