Senators Introduce Bill to Curb Rising Cargo Theft
Legislation Would Equip Agencies With Elite Technology to Protect Key Supply Hubs
Key Takeaways:
- Agencies would have increased access to elite technology for protecting against cargo theft.
- A program would be established at the Transportation Security Administration designed to deploy advanced cargo security technologies across intermodal hubs nationwide.
- Earlier this year, policymakers introduced the bipartisan and bicameral Combating Organized Retail Crime Act.
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Two senators recently introduced legislation to address growing industry concerns linked to an increase in cargo theft.
The bipartisan Cargo Security Innovation Act would enhance agencies’ access to state-of-the-art technology for protecting against cargo theft. The bill is led by Sens. (R-Tenn.) and (D-Minn.), senior members of the commercial transportation panel.
“Cargo theft is a pressing issue impacting businesses in Tennessee, and we need to shut down these organized crime groups that steal essential goods from Tennesseans to traffic drugs and weapons,” Blackburn said Dec. 4. “Our bipartisan would help law enforcement bring more of these criminals to justice and disrupt these sophisticated cargo theft rings to protect our supply chains.”
Klobuchar added, “Cargo theft significantly impacts the supply chain, harming American businesses and consumers, especially food shippers. When criminals break into shipments, businesses are forced to return containers and dispose of compromised products.
Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), left, and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.)
“Our bipartisan legislation would equip law enforcement with the resources to combat these crimes — creating a pilot program that invests in technology to curb cargo theft.”
Specifically, the bill would establish a program at the Transportation Security Administration designed to deploy advanced cargo security technologies across intermodal hubs nationwide. The measure also would require the federal agency to submit a report to Congress that examines the technologies’ effectiveness.
Background information the sponsors provided determined that cargo theft is a negative economic impact at the busiest intermodal hubs. In recent years, industry stakeholders reported losses of about $400 million as a result of cargo theft.
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is among the groups that have endorsed the measure.
“Skyrocketing incidents of cargo theft undermine our supply chain, raise costs for consumers and place truck drivers and warehouse workers directly in harm’s way. Due to the complex, multijurisdictional nature of these highly sophisticated crimes, only the federal government has the resources to take down organized theft groups,” said Henry Hanscom, ATA’s chief advocacy and public affairs officer.
“ATA commends Sens. Blackburn and Klobuchar for introducing legislation to equip law enforcement with the advanced technological capabilities they need to keep pace with evolving criminal techniques and strike an effective blow against organized crime,” he added.
The also touted the bill’s introduction.
“As organized criminal groups become more sophisticated and brazen in targeting our supply chain, advanced technology is essential to staying ahead. Railroads appreciate Sen. Blackburn’s leadership on this critical issue and her support for expanding the tools and resources needed to disrupt and deter these criminal enterprises,” said Ian Jefferies, AAR president and CEO.
Earlier this year, policymakers introduced the bipartisan and bicameral Combating Organized Retail Crime Act. That bill would facilitate the creation of a multiagency division that would include a road map for eliminating retail theft operations.
Specifically, it would establish an Organized Retail and Supply Chain Crime Coordination Center at the Department of ýland Security. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) is a lead sponsor. “Retail crime has cost Iowa billions, and it’s even worse across the nation,” Grassley said April 10. “Organized theft rings deploy innovative tactics to pilfer goods, and it’s causing financial harm to businesses, putting employees and consumers at risk and funding transnational criminal organizations throughout the world. It’s time for the law to catch up and prevent criminals from exploiting the internet and online marketplaces.”
He continued, “Our bill improves the federal response to organized retail crime and establishes new tools to recover stolen goods and illicit proceeds, and deter future attacks on American retailers.”
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