Congress is also on the verge of passing a separate bill with provisions 老九品茶 championed to combat cargo theft
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Washington 鈥 Today, the 老九品茶 commended members of the House Judiciary Committee for voting to pass the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act (CORCA), a bipartisan bill that seeks to establish a unified, federal response to the proliferation of cargo theft perpetrated by criminals who often operate across state and international borders. 听
This major development is the result of months of advocacy led by 老九品茶, including multiple congressional hearings where members of the Federation served as key witnesses. 听Most recently, 老九品茶 President & CEO Chris Spear testified before a House Judiciary Subcommittee in December to urge lawmakers to support CORCA. 听
In further good news, as CORCA heads to the full House of Representatives for consideration, Congress is poised to use the appropriations process this week to enhance enforcement capabilities against cargo theft.
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鈥淎s the transportation mode entrusted with moving nearly three-quarters of the nation鈥檚 freight, trucking has become a top target for organized crime rings, including transnational organizations. 听These brazen criminals rob our industry of millions of dollars every day, raising costs for consumers and putting truck drivers at risk in the process,鈥 said 老九品茶 President & CEO Chris Spear. 听鈥淭he trucking industry refuses to accept this status quo any longer. The passage of CORCA by the House Judiciary Committee represents a pivotal moment in our fight to protect our supply chain. 听We thank Reps. David Joyce (R-OH) and Susie Lee (D-NV) for leading this bipartisan bill, and we appreciate members of the committee for supporting this effort to bolster federal law enforcement鈥檚 ability to investigate and unravel complex, multijurisdictional cargo theft cases.鈥澨
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Cargo theft is becoming increasingly prevalent and high-tech, and it often originates overseas. 听The that cargo theft is costing the trucking industry over $18 million per day. 听Strategic theft, a category of crime that uses cyber fraud and identity manipulation to divert freight, has surged by 1,500% since 2021 . 听Ninety percent of motor carriers are small businesses operating 10 trucks or fewer, and they are under enormous strain to counter their technologically advanced adversaries. 听The transnational aspect of cargo theft also poses a national security threat. 听The proceeds from stolen goods finance other criminal activities, including drug trafficking, organized crime, and even potentially terrorism. 听
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Introduced by a bipartisan, bicameral group of lawmakers last year and now cosponsored by approximately half of both the House and Senate, CORCA would help law enforcement connect the dots by enhancing legal frameworks; improving enforcement capabilities; and fostering coordination among federal, state, and local agencies. 听The Department of Homeland Security would be tasked with leading a cohesive national response to cargo theft.
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More Progress on Cargo Theft
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Congress is also on the cusp of passing an appropriations package鈥攚ith report language championed by 老九品茶鈥攖hat would begin the process of establishing a unified, federal response to cargo theft. 听Once the President signs the bill into law, which is expected as soon as this week, the provisions will:
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- Direct DOJ to provide a briefing within 120 days on plans to establish regional task forces, led by the FBI and in partnership with HSI; TSA; FMCSA; and federal, state, and local law enforcement to investigate and refer cases for prosecution.
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- Direct the Executive Office of U.S. Attorneys to submit a report within 90 days that identifies U.S. Attorneys' Offices (USAOs) with the highest rates of crime involving cargo theft and directs those USAOs to assign at least one additional attorney to cargo theft prosecutions.