Law Enforcement and Retail Industry Leaders Call on Congress to Pass the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act Through the NDAA

BUTLER COUNTY, IOWA - Law enforcement organizations and retail industry leaders - including The Home Depot, Ulta Beauty, American Eagle Outfitters, UPS and DHL - are calling on Congress to advance the bipartisan Combating Organized Retail Crime Act as part of the must-pass National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The legislation, led by U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), was filed as an amendment to the NDAA as part of a bipartisan package offered by Grassley and Ranking Member Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) to reduce violent crime.

The Combating Organized Retail Crime Act would establish a multi-agency response to organized retail crime, which affects American consumers and businesses nationwide. The legislation would create a centralized task force in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to combat organized retail crime, while establishing new tools to recover stolen goods and enhance coordination between retail industry representatives and law enforcement.

The commonsense proposal, cosponsored by 47 bipartisan senators and overwhelmingly passed by the U.S. House of Representatives, has garnered massive support from leaders at the national and local levels, including 38 state attorneys general, major law enforcement organizations and a coalition of over 260 impacted businesses.

Here's what they're saying:

The Home Depot, Vice President of Asset Protection Scott Glenn:

"This is a significant milestone in a long journey to protect our people and our communities. Organized retail crime isn't petty shoplifting-it is theft for greed, heavily orchestrated by sophisticated criminal enterprises that operate across state and national lines. As these criminal networks have grown more brazen, our absolute priority remains the safety of our associates and customers. By attaching CORCA to the NDAA, Chairman Grassley, Ranking Member Durbin and Senator Cortez Masto are delivering on much needed law enforcement tools urgently needed to disrupt these groups and shut down the resale of stolen goods. We urge Congress to keep this momentum moving and finally pass this bipartisan bill into law."

Ulta Beauty, Senior Vice President of Asset Protection Dan Petrousek:

"Organized retail crime is not solely a retail issue - it is a community safety issue that is best addressed through a coordinated response. Ulta Beauty has been a longstanding supporter of the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act because it would strengthen collaboration and information sharing among law enforcement agencies and help combat criminal networks operating across jurisdictions. We view CORCA's advancement as part of the Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act as a constructive step toward creating safer environments for retail associates, guests and communities."

American Eagle Outfitters, Chief Global Asset Protection Officer Scott McBride:

"Transnational criminal organizations are orchestrating large-scale retail thefts and poly-criminal activities that inflict both economic damage and physical violence on our communities. By securing the inclusion of the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act in the National Defense Authorization Act, Congress is taking a decisive, powerful step to dismantle these illicit networks. This critical legislation provides the necessary tools to protect American businesses, safeguard our frontline workers, and ultimately, help protect every American. I want to express my sincere gratitude to Senate Judiciary Chairman Grassley and Ranking Member Durbin for their steadfast leadership, as well as members in the U.S. House for their vital bipartisan support of CORCA."

UPS, President of Global Public Affairs Michael Kiely:

"UPS applauds the advancement of the Combatting Organized Retail Crime Act as part of the NDAA, a decisive step to protect and strengthen the flow of commerce throughout our nation's supply chain from rail to road to retail."

DHL, Head of Corporate Public Affairs Americas Roger Libby:

"DHL applauds Chairman Chuck Grassley and Ranking Member Dick Durbin for advancing the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act as part of the FY2027 NDAA. Organized retail crime poses a growing threat to supply chains, businesses, and the employees who keep commerce moving. This bipartisan legislation will strengthen coordination among law enforcement agencies, improve coordination with the private sector, and help disrupt the sophisticated international criminal networks that drive these crimes. We urge Congress to enact CORCA and take an important step toward protecting American businesses, workers, and consumers."

The National Association of Attorneys General:

"On behalf of the bipartisan coalition of 38 attorneys general and territories that urged congressional action on organized retail crime, the National Association of Attorneys General welcomes the inclusion of the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act within the National Defense Authorization Act. Organized retail crime affects communities across the country and requires a coordinated response among law enforcement agencies at all levels of government. Advancing CORCA will strengthen information sharing and collaboration among federal, state, local, Tribal and territorial partners and enhance efforts to bring organized criminal enterprises to justice."

The National District Attorneys Association, Executive Director Nelson Bunn:

"The NDAA strongly supports the bipartisan package lead by Senate Judiciary Chair Grassley and Ranking Member Durbin to advance legislation that will keep our communities safe as part of the National Defense Authorization Act. NDAA strongly supports the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act (CORCA) and has testified twice this congress in favor of the bill. CORCA would improve the federal response to organized retail crime and provide prosecutors the necessary tools to dismantle organized crime rings. Collectively this package addresses several of NDAA's top legislative priorities and we urge it to be included in this year's [National] Defense Authorization Act."

The National Insurance Crime Bureau, President and CEO David J. Glawe:

"The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) strongly supports the advancement of the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act (CORCA) as part of the National Defense Authorization Act. Today's cargo theft schemes are often carried out by sophisticated crime rings and serve as vectors for transnational criminal activity, including drug and weapons trafficking and terrorism. These stolen goods also lead to pain for businesses and consumers alike through higher prices. CORCA will provide the critical reforms necessary to improve information-sharing, coordinate law enforcement capabilities and confront interstate and transnational organized theft. NICB applauds Chairman Grassley and Ranking Member Durbin and urges the passage of this important legislation."

The Major County Sheriffs of America, Executive Director Megan Noland:

"The Major County Sheriffs of America (MCSA) strongly supports efforts to combat organized retail and supply chain crime, and we appreciate the strong bipartisan support behind this legislation. By strengthening federal tools to investigate and prosecute organized criminal networks and improving coordination and information sharing across all levels of law enforcement, this bill is an important step toward addressing a growing public safety threat. We look forward to continuing to work with Congress to advance this important legislation."

The National Retail Federation, Executive Vice President of Government Relations David French:

"NRF applauds the continued leadership from Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Ranking Member Dick Durbin, D-Ill., on seeking paths for passage of the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act. CORCA overwhelmingly passed the House of Representatives on a strong bipartisan vote. We believe adding the bill to the National Defense Authorization Act is the right approach since organized retail crime (ORC) and supply chain theft have clear connections to transnational criminal organizations that threaten the U.S. economy. ORC remains a priority issue for NRF members, especially as we see a continued rise in violence tied to these crimes which threaten retail workers and customers. We urge the Senate to accept the amendment and pass the bill."

The American Trucking Association, President and CEO Chris Spear:

"Cargo theft is an escalating national security threat. The federal response has failed to keep pace, leaving a dangerous gap that transnational criminal organizations are exploiting. These sophisticated groups are stealing $18 million every day from the trucking industry and using the illicit proceeds to finance drug trafficking, organized crime and potentially terrorism. CORCA will give law enforcement the tools it needs to fight back. Senators Grassley and Durbin deserve enormous credit for leading a bipartisan effort to attach this critical legislation to the NDAA."

The Association of American Railroads, President and CEO Ian Jefferies:

"Rail cargo theft is worsening in scale, cost, and sophistication. In 2025, preliminary data showed that U.S. Railroads reported more than 75,000 theft incidents totaling over $200 million in losses. Often driven by organized criminal networks operating across state and national borders, these thefts are not only a threat to our national security and railroaders' safety, but also a direct hit on Americans' wallets at a time when families simply cannot afford it. Advancing the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act (CORCA) through the National Defense Authorization Act is a critical next step in the push to safeguard our nation's supply chain."

The Intermodal Association of North America (IANA), President and CEO Anne Reinke:

"IANA applauds the inclusion of CORCA in the crime-fighting package proposed for the National Defense Authorization Act by Senators Grassley and Durbin. These Senators' efforts demonstrate the bipartisanship that has defined this legislation. CORCA is both a critical and common-sense solution to supply chain security, providing much-needed federal enforcement and intelligence support to combat cargo theft and freight fraud that impacts IANA members."

The Retail Industry Leaders Association, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Evan Armstrong:

"The Combating Organized Retail Crime Act is critical legislation for retailers, employees, consumers and communities facing the growing threat of organized retail crime. By improving federal coordination and giving law enforcement additional tools to target sophisticated criminal networks, CORCA will help protect stores, supply chains and the customers we serve. Retailers applaud Senators Grassley and Durbin for their leadership on this issue and urge swift approval and adoption of this amendment into the NDAA to move CORCA one step closer to becoming law."

The International Council of Shopping Centers, President and CEO Tom McGee:

"Organized retail crime poses a serious threat to public safety, fuels sophisticated criminal networks and disrupts economic growth across the country. ICSC has proudly worked alongside lawmakers, industry partners and law enforcement to advance the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act since its introduction in 2022. As Congress continues to focus on strengthening public safety and combating criminal activity, we strongly support advancing CORCA and appreciate its inclusion in the Senate's 2027 National Defense Authorization Act. This legislation will provide critical tools and resources to help law enforcement better investigate, deter and dismantle organized retail crime operations. We urge Congress to act swiftly to ensure this bipartisan, commonsense measure is enacted into law."

World Shipping Council, President and CEO Joe Kramek:

"The World Shipping Council, as the global voice of liner shipping, applauds Senator Grassley's efforts to advance CORCA. Organized cargo and retail theft is not limited to store shelves. It targets goods across the supply chain, including trucks, rail, warehouses and distribution centers after cargo has moved through U.S. ports. For ocean carriers and their customers, these crimes undermine supply chain security, disrupt the movement of goods and ultimately raise costs for consumers. CORCA provides law enforcement, transportation partners and other stakeholders the comprehensive national response this problem demands. By creating an Organized Retail and Supply Chain Crime Coordination Center, the bill will connect federal, state and local law enforcement and establish relationships with private-sector experts to share intelligence, coordinate investigations and dismantle the networks driving this surge in theft."

The International Downtown Association, President & CEO David Downey, IOM, CAE:

"Organized retail crime is a serious challenge for many downtowns and main streets, affecting local businesses, workers, visitors and the sense of confidence that supports vibrant commercial districts. A coordinated challenge requires a coordinated response. We commend Chairman Grassley and Ranking Member Durbin for their leadership in advancing the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act, which would strengthen collaboration among law enforcement, prosecutors, retailers and local partners working to keep America's downtowns safe, welcoming and economically strong. IDA is proud to support this legislation and looks forward to seeing it signed into law."

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