This morning, the NRF joined congressional leaders and more than 30 retail brands in the nation’s capital in support of legislation to address organized retail crime.
In honor of Fight Retail Crime Day, more than 73 retail brands signed a letter to congressional leaders in support of the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2023 (S. 140/H.R. 895). The bipartisan legislation would establish a national coordination center, and combine expertise and resources from federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies and retail industry representatives to curb ORC.
Following the press conference, NRF and retailers met with more than 60 hill offices that have yet to cosponsor the legislation.
“Today is a day of action on Capitol Hill,” said NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay. “And it’s not only about the dollars involved here. It is about, in some cases, the tragic loss of life, the violence, the aggression that’s playing out in these retail locations. Retailers have done everything they can to make their stores and their places of business safe. And in spite of all that, we still need additional help and additional support. And that’s what the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act will provide us.”
“This is something that, for the state of Iowa, is a $1 billion problem,” said Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa). “But you also have to recognize not just the theft, but the danger to the employees, the cost to the consumers, and then the impact upon the individual retailers.”
“It’s happening in every community,” said Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) “I cannot walk out into my community, into a retail establishment without hearing from somebody that has experienced this. It is a crime and people are taking advantage of retail establishments, and that’s why it is important we pass this legislation.”
