In June, when I wrote on the passage of the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act (CORCA) in the United States House of Representatives, I did not realize that the path forward in the Senate would go straight through Michigan and Senator Gary Peters. I’m happy to report that in part because of MRA’s advocacy efforts, Senator Peters, as the ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee, has agreed to allow CORCA, with some amendments, to be offered as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Because the NDAA is a “must-pass” bill for the current Congress, CORCA now has a clear path for passage in the Senate. If passed in the Senate, the NDAA will then have to move to the House where Representative Dave Joyce (R-OH) has already agreed to add the House-passed CORCA as an amendment.
Passing CORCA is significant because it will strengthen the collaboration among federal, state, local, tribal, and private sector partners through a multi-agency organized retail and supply chain crime coordination center. The impact will serve a tremendous financial benefit to consumers and retailers alike through the systematic dismantling of organized crime rings.
CORCA’s passage is critical to continuing the good work the state of Michigan has done in combating organized retail crime. Federal legislation will make it easier to prosecute offenders who cross state lines and alleviate the potential for a patchwork of enforcement efforts across states. Michigan has been the leader in these efforts, with MRA’s advocacy team serving as a champion for various legislative, funding, and enforcement efforts. Despite these efforts in our home state, the time is now for a federal solution.