Homeownership is the cornerstone of the American dream. Texans across our state save their hard-earned paychecks month in and month out with the hope of one day holding the keys to a house they can call their own. So, to see increasing instances in the news of politicians being credibly accused of committing mortgage fraud is not only shocking but an insult to ordinary citizens who play by the rules.

No politician is above the law, and any public official who breaks the law to enrich themselves deserves the harshest penalties. This is why I’ve introduced a new bill to ensure that public officials who commit fraud receive the consequences they deserve.

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While young working families around the country are struggling to buy their first homes in the face of high prices and high interest rates, some public officials have cheated and taken an easier route. Unfortunately, several people in public office who are lucky enough to own multiple homes have allegedly lied on their mortgage applications, claiming more than one of their homes as their primary residence to secure lower interest rates and other tax benefits.

Lying on a mortgage application has always been considered a serious form of fraud. But when working families are struggling, it is even more offensive for these shameless politicians, who hold positions of public trust, to scam the system for their own financial gain. It’s nothing short of a slap in the face to ordinary Americans who follow the law.

There is no shortage of real-world examples of these dirty mortgage dealings. While proceedings are ongoing in a number of cases, the Department of Justice recently opened an investigation into Lisa Cook, a governor of the Federal Reserve, for possibly committing mortgage fraud. New York Attorney General Letitia James is also under investigation for alleged mortgage fraud, while sitting Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA) is facing a criminal investigation for similar offenses. These crimes deserve consequences.

My Law Enforcement Tools to Interdict Troubling Investments in Abodes (LETITIA) Act will ensure that these individuals receive the just penalties they deserve. The bill would establish enhanced criminal penalties for elected officials who commit bank, mortgage, credit, and tax fraud.

Under my legislation, public officials convicted of a first or second mortgage, bank, or credit offense would be subject to an increased fine of up to $1.5 million and a mandatory minimum prison sentence. For a third offense, public officials would be subject to a fine of up to $2 million with an increased mandatory minimum imprisonment.

Public officials who commit tax fraud would also face increased fines and mandatory minimum prison sentences. These heightened penalties would reflect the gravity of committing fraud while holding a position of public trust.

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Public officials have a duty to adhere to the highest moral and ethical standards. The Americans who elected them deserve nothing less. No citizen is above the law, and those who hold public office have an even more serious obligation to follow our nation’s laws and serve as models of good citizenry.

It is a matter of justice that public officials who break the law should face harsher criminal penalties. By passing the LETITIA Act, Congress can drive this point home.

John Cornyn is a senior senator from Texas.