NRF Urges Congress to Pass Federal Retail Crime Bill

WASHINGTON - The following statement may be attributed to National Retail Federation Executive Vice President of Government Relations David French following the House Judiciary Committee's markup of H.R. 2853, the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act.

"ORC continues to be a multifaceted problem, afflicting all aspects of the retail industry and the customers they serve. Organized groups are now diversifying their criminal portfolios, exploiting vulnerabilities across the entire retail ecosystem for financial gain.

"The Combating Organized Retail Crime Act establishes a coordinated crime center within Homeland Security Investigations to foster collaboration across jurisdictions, enhance investigative resources and build upon the progress that has been made at the state level.

"NRF has long supported federal legislation to strengthen federal, state and local law enforcement coordination so that they can further counteract these crimes and bring criminals to justice. NRF applauds House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jordan and Ranking Member Raskin for a successful markup of this important legislation. We now urge the House to vote on it and for the Senate to quickly follow suit and pass it into law."

NRF submitted a letter of supportin advance of the House Judiciary Committee's markup.

In December 2025, NRF submitted a written statement for the recordfor a House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Federal Government Surveillance hearing outlining the impacts of ORC on retailers and consumers.

According to NRF's "The Impact of Theft & Violence 2025" report, more than half of retailers surveyed reported increases in phone scams (70%), digital and ecommerce frauds (55%), shoplifting and merchandise theft (52%), and cargo or supply chain thefts (50%) being conducted by ORC groups over the past 12 months.

As the leading authority and voice for retail, NRF has spearheaded industry efforts for policy reform on crucial ORC legislation.

About NRF
The National Retail Federation passionately advocates for the people, brands, policies and ideas that help retail succeed. From its headquarters in Washington, D.C., NRF empowers the industry that powers the economy. Retail is the nation's largest private-sector employer, contributing $5.3 trillion to annual GDP and supporting more than one in four U.S. jobs - 55 million working Americans. For over a century, NRF has been a voice for every retailer and every retail job, educating, inspiring and communicating the powerful impact retail has on local communities and global economies. nrf.com