WASHINGTON — House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-Texas) and Congressman Robert Goodlatte (R-Va.) this week introduced legislation to combat the growth of organized retail crime (ORC), announced the Coalition Against Organized Retail Crime.

The bill, the Organized Retail Crime Prevention and Enforcement Act of 2009 (HR 4011), is the third bill introduced in the House this year aimed at addressing ORC; a bill has been introduced in the Senate as well.

The Coalition Against Organized Retail Crime “applauds Ranking Member Smith and Congressman Goodlatte for introducing legislation to combat organized retail crime and welcome their effort to protect consumers by putting these criminals out of business.”

Separately, the Food Marketing Institute praised Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Va.), chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security for holding a hearing on strengthening anti-crime laws to combat the growing problem of organized retail crime (ORC).

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