Support for H.R. 2853, the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act

Dear Chairman Jordan and Ranking Member Raskin,

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce supports H.R. 2853, the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act. This bipartisan legislation represents a critical step toward addressing surges in retail crime and cargo theft that are putting the nation's businesses and consumers at risk.

While higher-profile crimes and finger-pointing grab the headlines, businesses continue to struggle with rising business-focused crimes. Retail crimes like organized shoplifting rings and "smash-and-grabs" have been persistent problems for America's businesses. Crime numbers often fluctuate from year-to-year but the long-term trends are clear with larcenies involving shoplifting having doubled since the 1970s according to statistics from the nonprofit Council for Criminal Justice. Retail crime creates higher prices for consumers, results in stores having to close their doors, and communities left without vital goods and services. No business should have to close because of crime.

Cargo theft is another rising concern for the business community. Cargo theft is increasing rapidly with a significant shift toward sophisticated fraud and deception tactics. Cargo theft results in higher costs throughout the supply chain ultimately impacting small business shippers and retailers. The latest numbers from CargoNet show a 13% increase in theft incidents in the second quarter of 2025 over 2024 following record-high numbers of cargo theft incidents in 2023 and 2024. Increasing cargo theft is eroding confidence in supply chains that are critical to our nation's businesses.

The Combating Organized Retail Crime Act focuses on increased coordination in curbing retail crime and cargo theft. Improved coordination is the main pillar in the U.S. Chamber's call to action to stop retail crime. This bipartisan bicameral bill would establish a new Organized Retail and Supply Chain Crime Coordination Center. The Center would align efforts, expertise and resources across local, state, federal and private-sector partners, improving information-sharing and enabling more coordinated investigations and prosecutions. CORCA will create a unified, national response building on the more than 30 state laws that have been enacted since 2022.

Thank you for your leadership. We look forward to working with you on this important legislation.

Sincerely,

Neil Bradley

Executive Vice President, Chief Policy Officer,

and Head of Strategic Advocacy

U.S. Chamber of Commerce