House Judiciary Committee advances CORCA to crack down on organized cargo and retail theft
Summary
The House Judiciary Committee has approved H.R. 2853, the Combatting Organized Retail Crime Act of 2025 (CORCA), moving the bill closer to a full House vote. Originally filed by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Rep. David Joyce (R-OH), CORCA aims to strengthen federal tools to prosecute large-scale organised retail and cargo theft and to improve intelligence sharing between government and industry.
Key elements include expanding federal authority under Title 18 to better prosecute aggregated theft, creating a Department of Homeland Security-led Crime Coordination Centre to centralise data and intelligence, raising penalties for organised cargo theft (especially across state or international lines), and boosting public–private co-operation among federal agencies, law enforcement, carriers and retailers.
Key Points
- House Judiciary Committee advanced H.R. 2853 (CORCA), which targets organised retail and cargo theft.
- CORCA would expand federal prosecution powers under Title 18 and increase penalties for organised cargo theft and fraudulent transport of goods.
- The bill proposes a DHS-led Crime Coordination Centre to facilitate data sharing, intelligence analysis and joint enforcement.
- Industry groups — including TIA, ATA, AAR and NRF — applauded the committee vote and urged quick passage by the full House and Senate.
- Stakeholders warn cargo theft costs the U.S. economy heavily (TIA cites up to $35bn annually; ATA cites more than $18m per day to trucking) and say theft incidents and freight fraud have surged since 2021.
Context and relevance
CORCA responds to a sharp rise in coordinated theft rings that target high-value freight and retail merchandise and then resell it via physical and online marketplaces. Logistics operators, carriers and retailers face direct losses, higher insurance and security costs, and safety risks to drivers and workers. The bill signals a federal shift toward treating large-scale cargo theft as a complex, multi-jurisdictional crime requiring centralised intelligence and stronger cross-agency and public–private responses.
For logistics managers, security teams and shippers, CORCA could translate into stronger enforcement, more federal resources for investigations, and closer collaboration with law enforcement — but also new reporting or co-operation expectations. If passed, it may change how companies prioritise anti-theft technology, compliance and incident reporting.
Why should I read this?
Short version: if you move, store or sell goods, this matters. CORCA could mean tougher penalties for thieves, better federal support for investigations, and more pressure on the resale channels that monetise stolen freight. Read the detail because it’ll affect risk, insurance and day-to-day security choices across the supply chain — and it’s moving fast through Congress.