YourVoice.Now Summary
Civil LibertiesCriminal Justice & Due ProcessCorporate BenefitsTransparency & AccountabilityLets prosecutors combine a year of small thefts into one federal charge — and opens a Homeland Security retail-theft center.
Civil Liberties
A federal law makes it a crime for government workers to release confidential business and financial records. The center's director, and no one else, could approve sharing that information when an investigation needs it.
Criminal Justice & Due Process
Federal law covers stolen goods worth $5,000 or more that cross state lines. Prosecutors could reach that amount by adding up thefts over any 12-month period.
The interstate stolen-goods law would also cover goods taken by embezzlement or by lying. A catch-all phrase, other illegal means, would cover the rest.
Three theft crimes would join the list that can lead to money-laundering charges: theft from shipments, moving stolen goods, and selling them. Money laundering is a separate crime with its own penalties.
After a conviction, a court could order the person to hand over the money made from the crime. This would apply to theft from shipments and to moving or selling stolen goods.
The money-laundering law lists what counts as money. Gift cards, gift certificates, and general-use prepaid cards would be added to that list.
Corporate Benefits
The center would build working ties with retail and transportation companies. It would share threat information, work cases with them, and help with their loss prevention.
Transparency & Accountability
The center would track how retail and cargo theft is changing. It would have to publish what it finds once a year, for anyone to read.
The center's authority would end seven years after it opens. Homeland Security would have to wind it down unless Congress passes a new law.
More about this bill
Most people would notice no change in daily life. The shift lands on people accused of moving or selling stolen goods. Federal law already covers goods worth $5,000 or more. Prosecutors could add up thefts over any 12-month period to reach that amount. A crew that keeps each theft small could still face federal charges. Goods taken by embezzlement, by lying, or by other illegal means would also count. Courts could seize the profits from these crimes after a conviction. Prosecutors could also bring money-laundering charges over those profits. Gift cards and prepaid cards would count as money under that law. Homeland Security would have 90 days to open a new coordination center. Homeland Security Investigations would run it. Staff would come from the FBI, the Secret Service, the Postal Inspection Service, and other agencies. The center would help state, local, and Tribal police work these cases. It would share threat information with stores, trucking firms, and other businesses. Those businesses could send tips back to investigators. The center's director could approve sharing information that federal law usually keeps private. The center would have to publish a yearly public report on theft trends. It would also report to four committees in Congress. Homeland Security and the Justice Department would review current grant and training programs within 180 days. The center would close seven years after it opens. Congress would have to act to keep it going. The bill's findings cite industry data putting the average cargo theft above $202,000 in 2024.
Congressional Summary
This bill expands federal enforcement of criminal offenses related to organized retail and supply chain crime. The term organized retail and supply chain crime includes criminal offenses involving the interstate transportation of stolen property, the sale or receipt of stolen goods, or theft from an interstate or foreign shipment that is committed by, in coordination with, or at the instruction of an organization.First, with respect to criminal offenses involving the interstate transportation of stolen property or the sale or receipt of stolen goods, the bill broadens the scope of conduct that qualifies as offenses by allowing prosecutions to be based on the aggregate value of stolen items over a 12-month period. Additionally, the bill makes the offenses predicate offenses (i.e., underlying offenses) for prosecutions under the federal money laundering statute and authorizes the criminal forfeiture of any property obtained from the proceeds of an offense.Second, with respect to criminal offenses involving theft from an interstate or foreign shipment, the bill also makes an offense an underlying offense for prosecution under the federal money laundering statute and authorizes the criminal forfeiture of any associated property.Third, the bill expands the federal money laundering statute to include offenses involving general-use prepaid cards, gift certificates, or store gift cards.Finally, the bill temporarily establishes a center within the Department of Homeland Security to coordinate federal law enforcement activities related to organized retail and supply chain crime.
Legislative Subjects
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- House
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 402.
- Action Date
- 2026-01-30
- Date Added
- 2026-04-09
- Source
- Congress.gov →
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