Joyce Passes Organized Retail Crime Bill Through House Judiciary Committee
WASHINGTON D.C. – Yesterday, the House Judiciary Committee marked up and advanced Congressman Dave Joyce’s (OH-14) bill, the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act. This bipartisan, bicameral bill establishes a coordinated, multi-agency response and creates new tools to tackle evolving trends in organized retail theft and combat these criminal operations.
Representatives Susie Lee (NV-03), David Valadao (CA-21), Dina Titus (NV-01), Michael Baumgartner (WA-05), Brad Schneider (IL-10), Laurel Lee (FL-15), and Lou Correa (CA-46) co-lead this legislation in the United States House of Representatives. Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) introduced the companion legislation in the United States Senate.
“Unfortunately, the rise in organized retail crime impacts us all, either directly or indirectly. Criminal enterprises are hurting our small businesses, disrupting supply chains, and placing consumers in danger,” said Congressman Joyce. “Their illicit activities also contribute to other crimes across the country, as stolen goods are often sold to finance drug and human trafficking rings. The Combating Organized Retail Crime Act targets these criminal networks by establishing an Organized Retail and Supply Chain Crime Coordination Center at the Department of Homeland Security and giving law enforcement the tools they need to do their jobs and protect our communities. I want to thank Chairman Jordan and the members of the House Judiciary Committee who advanced this bill with unanimous consent, and I look forward to this bill being brought to the House floor for a vote.”
Background:
The Combating Organized Retail Crime Act would establish an Organized Retail and Supply Chain Crime Coordination Center within Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This Coordination Center will allow increased collaboration between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, along with retail crime associations and subject matter experts, to create a cohesive strategy to combat these crimes and share valuable resources.
According to the National Retail Federation, there was a combined 19 percent increase in external shoplifting and merchandise theft incidents from 2023 to 2024. Stores lost $121.6 billion to retail theft in 2023, compared to $93.9 billion in 2021 and $61.7 billion in 2019. In 2024, 46 percent of retailers reported that they saw increases in guest-related violence and violence during a crime. At the same time, product manufacturers and the supply chain are experiencing a rise in organized cargo theft across rails, roads, and the various distribution points across the United States, with cargo and supply chain theft increasing for 48 percent of retailers in 2024. These crimes are often orchestrated by organized groups that resell stolen goods through physical and online marketplaces, further fueling illicit profits and financing additional criminal enterprises. The Combating Organized Retail Crime Act seeks to address these challenges by enhancing legal frameworks, improving enforcement capabilities, and fostering coordination across federal, state, and local agencies. The legislation responds to the limitations of state-level efforts, which struggle with resource constraints and the interstate and international nature of organized retail and supply chain crime, and it aims to safeguard commerce, consumer confidence, and national security.
Click here to see what stakeholders are saying about the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act.
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