Major U.S. retailers are backing a new federal bill designed to combat organized retail theft networks that companies say are contributing to store closures and rising losses. The legislation has already passed the House of Representatives with bipartisan support and is now moving to the Senate.
The proposed law, known as the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act (CORCA), would expand federal enforcement powers against interstate theft operations and illicit resale markets. Retail groups argue that current laws are not equipped to address the scale and coordination of modern retail crime.
Retailers including Walmart, Target, and Home Depot have supported the bill through the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA). According to the organizations backing the legislation, organized retail crime has evolved beyond isolated shoplifting cases and increasingly involves coordinated theft rings operating across state lines.
The legislation passed the House on Tuesday with support from 348 representatives, while 60 voted against it. It now heads to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary for further consideration.
Retail Industry Says Organized Theft Is Driving Financial Pressure
Supporters of CORCA argue that existing legal frameworks were largely designed to handle individual shoplifting incidents rather than large criminal operations connected to online resale platforms and supply chain theft.
According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), organized retail crime and the resale of stolen goods resulted in an estimated $120 billion in losses during 2023. Retail groups say these operations often involve coordinated networks that move stolen products across multiple states before reselling them online or through informal channels.
The legislation seeks to address what lawmakers and retailers describe as jurisdictional gaps that make it difficult for local and federal authorities to investigate theft operations spanning several regions. CORCA would expand money laundering statutes, strengthen legal tools targeting interstate retail crime, and create a dedicated center focused on organized retail crime investigations.
Retail leaders have also warned that the continued rise of theft could affect store operations and pricing. According to CNBC, former Walmart CEO Doug McMillon said in December 2022 that if prosecution and enforcement challenges are not corrected over time, “prices will be higher, and/or stores will close.”
Retail groups have repeatedly linked organized theft to broader financial pressures on physical stores, particularly in urban markets where companies have reported repeated incidents of large-scale theft.
Federal Bill Gains Broad Bipartisan Support in House
CORCA received support from more than 200 House sponsors before passing this week. Backers of the bill include lawmakers from both parties, along with national retail organizations such as RILA and the NRF.
According to statements released after the vote, supporters believe the legislation would give federal agencies additional authority and resources to investigate organized theft groups operating across state and regional lines. The bill also includes provisions related to cargo theft and supply chain crimes.
NRF Executive Vice President of Government Relations David French described the House vote as “a critical step toward addressing the national threat posed by organized theft rings and cargo theft.” According to the NRF statement, French said the legislation would strengthen efforts to “identify, investigate, and disrupt sophisticated criminal operations.”
Retail organizations are now urging the Senate to advance the bill quickly. The legislation must still pass the Senate and receive presidential approval before becoming law.
The debate around organized retail crime has intensified in recent years as major retailers report increasing losses tied to coordinated theft operations. CORCA’s supporters maintain that broader federal enforcement tools are necessary to address those networks, while the bill’s next stage now rests with the Senate Judiciary Committee.
