The U.S. House of Representatives has approved legislation that would seek to address recent upticks in organized retail and cargo theft incidents.

The Combating Organized Retail Crime Act (CORCA) was introduced in the House in 2025, as a bipartisan response to rising concerns around retail theft and stolen cargo across U.S shipping hubs. The bill would establish a coordinated multi-agency response effort with Homeland Security, allow for prosecution of organized retail and supply chain theft groups that use interstate commerce to facilitate crimes, and allow criminal forfeitures following convictions for the sale of stolen goods. 

"Organized retail crime and cargo theft are hurting small businesses and families across the Central Valley,” said California Republican Congressman and co-sponsor David Valadao. “These are coordinated criminal operations that put public safety at risk, disrupt supply chains, and drive-up costs for consumers."

According to data shared by supply chain risk management company Overhaul, cargo thefts rose by 16% year-over-year in the U.S. in 2025, and are expected to jump up by another 13% by the end of this year. Cargo thieves have also gotten more sophisticated in their methods, by exploiting changes in technology to impersonate legitimate carriers and brokers using hacked emails, stolen load IDs, phishing calls and forged documents.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce voiced support for CORCA in a May 11 release, calling it "a critical step toward addressing surges in retail crime and cargo theft that are putting the nation's businesses and consumers at risk." Separate data from the American Trucking Associations estimates that cargo thefts cost the American economy up to $35 billion a year, creating higher costs for shippers and retailers up and down the country's supply chains.

Now that's been passed in the House, CORCA will next need approval in the U.S. Senate, followed by a signature from President Donald Trump.