Several GOP lawmakers have proposed a new bill that would require photo identification to use food stamps.

Arguing that taxpayers lose $858 million a year on food stamp fraud, they say the bill will ensure that food stamp benefits actually belong to the person who is using them by requiring retailers to check the photo ID of a person every time they attempt to use the federal program.

One of the co-sponsors, Rep. Jim Bridenstine (R-OK), joined Tucker Carlson on "Fox and Friends" this morning to explain his support of the bill.

"I think it's perfectly appropriate when the taxpayers are losing almost a billion dollars a year to fraud in the SNAP program - which is the food stamp program. I think it's perfectly appropriate to require a low hurdle like an ID," Bridenstine said.

He explained it doesn't even have to be a driver's license. It can be any card that has a picture ID on it, such as a library card.

With 46.2 million Americans on food stamps, 50 percent of the USDA Office of the Inspector General's resources go to fighting food stamp fraud. There were over 551 convictions in 2013 alone.

"It's not going to be perfect," Bridenstine said. "But we can do a little bit more to prevent the taxpayer from being defrauded."

Critics argue that lower-income people may not have photo ID

How are people without photo ID getting food stamps in the first place? Carlson asked.

"Usually, to qualify for food stamps, you have to go through a qualification process, whether it's in-person or over the phone, you have to identify yourself in some capacity," Bridenstine explained. "The challenge is, after you get the food stamps, you no longer have to be identified when you use them. Well, that's when the cash is available, either for the person who has the food stamps, or the owner of a convenience store or grocery store."

Watch more above.