Retailers Champion Bill Aimed at Dismantling Organized Crime

By [ Michael Hanson ]
Washington, DC
04/10/2025

Today, leading retailers applauded the introduction of the Combatting Organized Retail Crime Act of 2025 legislation that establishes a coordinated federal response to the growing societal problem of retail theft.

The bipartisan, bicameral Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2025 (CORCA) establishes a Center to Combat Organized Retail and Supply Chain Crime at Homeland Security Investigations. The Center will combine expertise from federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies as well as retail industry representatives. Coordinating these resources creates a unified government and industry collaboration to fight against the sophisticated criminal rings engaged in coordinated retail theft operations.

“Organized criminal enterprises are endangering communities across the country through brazen and violent criminal acts that put retail employees and customers in harm’s way. Whether stealing mass quantities of products from retail stores or hijacking consumer goods throughout the supply chain these gangs are wreaking havoc. And these criminal rings use the profits from retail theft to support larger illicit activities such as human trafficking, gun smuggling, narcotics, and terrorism,” said Michael Hanson, senior executive vice president, public affairs at the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA). “In order to expose and prosecute these sophisticated criminal rings, we need federal, state and local law enforcement to be coordinated, which is exactly what CORCA will do.”

Retail theft is pervasive across America and the economic impact of retail crime is profound. Organized rings are targeting retailers in-stores, deceiving consumers through gift-card scams and attacking our supply chains through cargo theft operations. Retailers welcome a cohesive national strategy to help fight against the tide of organized retail crime.

The legislation is sponsored by Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and Reps. Dave Joyce (R-OH), Susie Lee (D-NV), David Valadao (R-CA), Dina Titus (D-NV), Michael Baumgartner (R-WA), Brad Schneider (D-IL), Laurel Lee (R-FL), and Lou Correa (D-CA).

“Retail leaders are encouraged there is bipartisan, bicameral momentum to holistically dismantle sophisticated criminal rings that are targeting retailers and communities across the country,” said Sarah Gilmore, RILA senior director, government affairs. “RILA is eager to garner additional support and get this critical piece of legislation signed into law.”

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Media Contact: Melissa Murdock
202-381-0627

RILA is the US trade association for leading retailers. We convene decision-makers, advocate for the industry, and promote operational excellence and innovation. Our aim is to elevate a dynamic industry by transforming the environment in which retailers operate.

RILA members include more than 200 retailers, product manufacturers, and service suppliers, which together account for more than $2.7 trillion in annual sales, millions of American jobs, and hundreds of thousands of stores, manufacturing facilities, and distribution centers domestically and abroad