The Iowa Association of Business and Industry (ABI) has publicly endorsed the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act (CORCA), a bipartisan bill led by U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and cosponsored by Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nevada). The legislation seeks to address rising incidents of retail theft through a coordinated, multi-agency approach.
Brad Hartkopf, Senior Director of Public Policy at ABI, expressed support for Grassley’s efforts. “Grassley’s long record of practical problem-solving continues with this effort. His leadership ensures that Iowa’s voice is shaping national policy on an issue that affects every business and every household in our state,” Hartkopf wrote.
Earlier this year, Senator Grassley chaired a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing focused on organized retail crime. During the hearing, expert witnesses highlighted the need for congressional action and described CORCA as “game changing” legislation. Since then, the bill has received endorsements from 38 state attorneys general, various advocacy groups, major law enforcement organizations, and more than 260 businesses affected by retail theft.
In an op-ed published in The Gazette, Hartkopf detailed the growing impact of cargo theft in Iowa and nationwide. He cited recent data indicating a sharp rise in trucking cargo theft incidents across Iowa since 2021, part of a broader national trend costing billions annually. He noted that three-quarters of Iowa trucking companies reported being targeted within the past 18 months.
Hartkopf explained that increased theft leads to higher costs for businesses and consumers due to lost inventory and rising insurance rates. “When thefts like these multiply, we all pay more. Businesses lose inventory, insurance rates rise and the higher costs ultimately reach consumers,” he stated.
CORCA aims to counter these challenges by establishing a national coordination center to facilitate information sharing among law enforcement agencies and enhance tracking and recovery of stolen goods across state lines. The Department of Homeland Security would also receive new tools to target organized criminal rings involved in these activities.
The Association of American Railroads voiced its support for CORCA, noting: “Cargo theft is not a victimless crime — it increases costs for consumers, endangers workers, and threatens the reliability of the supply chain.”
Hartkopf emphasized the importance of protecting sectors vital to Iowa’s economy—such as agriculture, manufacturing, and logistics—from disruptions caused by cargo theft. He concluded by commending Senator Grassley’s continued leadership on bipartisan solutions intended to strengthen law enforcement coordination and safeguard economic activity.
“Sen. Grassley’s long record of practical problem-solving continues with this effort. His leadership ensures that Iowa’s voice is shaping national policy on an issue that affects every business and every household in our state,” Hartkopf reiterated.
###
