AAR applauds House passage of CORCA, urges swift Senate action on organized cargo theft

The Association of American Railroads (AAR) applauds the U.S. House of Representatives for passing the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act (CORCA), bipartisan legislation designed to combat sophisticated criminal networks targeting America's supply chains.

“Today’s House passage of CORCA is a win for every business, worker, and consumer who depends on the reliable and affordable movement of goods across America, and we applaud Reps. Dave Joyce, Dina Titus, David Valadao and Susie Lee for their leadership in championing this important legislation, alongside the bill’s 15 additional original cosponsors and the broad bipartisan support reflected in its 206 total House cosponsors,” said Ian Jefferies, president and CEO of AAR. “Organized cargo theft raises costs across the supply chain — from railroads and trucking companies to retailers, manufacturers, and ultimately consumers — while also putting transportation employees and frontline workers at greater risk from increasingly sophisticated criminal activity. Today’s House action brings Congress one step closer to delivering the federal response Americans deserve,” he added.

Organized cargo theft is driving up prices for consumers and endangering supply chain workers nationwide. Major U.S. railroads alone reported more than 75,000 theft incidents valued at over $200 million in losses in 2025 — a more than 50% increase year-over-year — carried out by transnational networks that exploit enforcement gaps across jurisdictions. Despite substantial industry investments in security, only about one in ten theft attempts lead to an arrest.

CORCA strengthens federal law enforcement tools, establishes a national coordination center within Homeland Security Investigations, and provides grants and training to frontline agencies. But the problem is not waiting for legislation. AAR and a broad coalition have called on the Department of Justice to more aggressively deploy existing federal resources and enforcement tools to combat organized supply chain theft, including dedicating additional prosecutorial and investigative attention to these increasingly sophisticated criminal networks.

Every American who buys groceries, orders online, or ships a package feels the cost of cargo theft. The Senate now can finish the job — pass CORCA, lower costs for consumers, protect supply chain workers, and safeguard the flow of goods that powers everyday American life.