The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the bipartisan Combating Organized Retail Crime Act (CORCA), legislation strongly supported by grocery, retail and supply chain organizations seeking tougher federal action against organized theft and cargo crime. The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration.
The legislation would establish a coordinated federal response to organized retail theft, cargo theft and supply-chain crime by creating a centralized coordination center within the Department of Homeland Security and expanding information-sharing between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Industry groups say increasingly sophisticated theft rings have become a major cost driver across retail and food distribution networks.
The measure received broad support from grocery and retail organizations, including the National Grocers Association, FMI – The Food Industry Association and the Retail Industry Leaders Association, alongside trucking, rail and manufacturing groups. A coalition letter backing the bill argued that organized retail crime is contributing to higher operating costs, supply-chain disruption and rising prices for consumers.
FMI Chief Public Policy Officer Jennifer Hatcher stated, “FMI applauds the House of Representatives for passage of the bipartisan Combating Organized Retail Crime Act, which takes important action to designate organized retail and supply chain crime, including cargo theft, as a federal crime. This legislation will help ensure the safety of customers and associates and reduce the impact of theft on grocery prices. We call on the Senate to follow suit and pass CORCA in short order to send to President Trump’s desk.”
Hatcher continued, “This congressional action is welcome news at FMI’s annual Asset Protection & Grocery Resilience Conference being held this week. FMI’s Asset Protection Council and Violence Preparedness Committee work with industry partners, law enforcement, community leaders and other stakeholders to prevent, mitigate and address crimes and threats in order to enhance safety. Enactment of CORCA would provide much needed federal support to these efforts.”
According to the American Trucking Associations, cargo theft is now costing the trucking industry an estimated $18 million per day, with strategic cargo fraud incidents surging in recent years as criminal groups increasingly use identity theft, fraudulent documentation and technology-driven schemes to divert shipments.
Retail and grocery executives have increasingly warned that organized theft has evolved beyond isolated shoplifting incidents into highly coordinated interstate and transnational criminal operations targeting stores, warehouses and freight networks. Supporters of the legislation argue the current patchwork of state-level enforcement has made prosecution difficult as theft rings move across jurisdictions.
The bill’s passage marks one of the most significant federal retail crime measures advanced by Congress in recent years and reflects growing pressure from retailers, grocers and supply-chain operators for stronger national enforcement tools. Senate action on the measure is expected later this year.
You can read the NGA Letter in support of H.R. 2853, the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2025 (CORCA).
