Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, an Illinois Democrat, is working to garner Republican support for U.S. retail legislation that would require online retailers to collect sales tax in states where they don't have a physical presence, according to the National Journal.

The bipartisan Marketplace Fairness Act is co-sponsored by Durbin and Republican Senators Mike Enzi and Lamar Alexander, of Wyoming and Tennessee, respectively. It's facing a likely filibuster and needs 60 votes in order to be passed by the Senate.

Retail industry groups have publicly endorsed the proposed U.S. retail compliance changes, along with several big-name retailers, including Amazon, Target and Barnes and Noble.

A letter quoted by the news source and signed by groups such as the National Retail Federation and the Retail Industry Leaders Association applauded the fact that the bill "would level the playing field between brick-and-mortar and e-commerce retail businesses." The legislation would also help states claim approximately $23 billion in uncollected sales taxes currently due on online sales.

Utah Representative Wayne Harper recently spoke out in support of the act, according to the Salt Lake Tribune. Harper is also championing two similar state bills.