Kim’s bipartisan bill strategizes against organized retail crimes

A federal strategy to thwart organized retail crimes would be authorized under bipartisan legislation recently sponsored by U.S. Rep. Young Kim (R-CA). 

“In my district, we see businesses victimized by organized retail crime nearly every week,” Rep. Kim said. “This cannot become our new normal.” 

The Improving the Federal Response of Organized Retail Crime Act of 2023, H.R. 316, which Rep. Kim reintroduced on Jan. 12 with original cosponsors including U.S. Reps. Andrew Garbarino (R-NY) and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), would direct certain heads of federal agencies to develop the strategy for improving federal investigations of organized retail crime, according to the text of the bill.

Rep. Kim said she was proud to lead the legislation “to boost information sharing between the federal government, state and local law enforcement and entities to address organized retail crime and hold these criminal networks accountable,” said Rep. Kim. 

In California, the Orange County Business Council, the Yorba Linda Chamber of Commerce, and the South Orange County Economic Coalition endorsed H.R. 316, which would direct the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Postal Service, and other agencies to create a cohesive strategy on how the federal government could improve coordination and information sharing among federal law enforcement agencies, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Kim’s staff.

Additionally, the strategy would outline how to increase collaboration with retailers, organized retail crime associations, and state-run retail crime task forces; as well as how to assist state and local authorities in compiling evidence for the prosecution of organized retail crimes, the summary says.  

“I will always work hard to protect our Southern California communities and to promote a safe environment for entrepreneurs to operate, grow their enterprises and create jobs,” the congresswoman said.  

Rep. Kim first unveiled the same-named H.R. 7499 in April 2022 after hearing from small business owners in her district, according to her staff, but the bill languished in the U.S. House Judiciary Committee.