Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5932 directs the Attorney General to establish an Organized Retail Theft Investigation and Prosecution Unit to combat the growing problem of organized retail crime. Theft from retail establishments has been a problem as long as stores have existed. The problem has gradually grown beyond simple isolated cases of shoplifting and burglary into something far more complex. It wasn't until the 1980s that organized retail theft was recognized as a phenomenon, and the problem has continued to grow in volume, sophistication and scope. Today, sophisticated, multilevel criminal organizations steal large amounts of high volume products, focusing on small and easily resalable items, and then they resell the goods through a variety means, including flea markets, smaller stores, and, increasingly the Internet. Sales of stolen items over the Internet have evolved to the point where there has been a new crime phenomenon referred to as ``E-fencing.'' With organized retail theft reaching an estimated $30 billion to $42 billion, it impacts everyone from the Big Box retailers to the small independent stores. This type of crime obviously has a direct impact on stores from which the items are stolen. They have fewer items in their inventory to sell and their profits suffer. To make up for it, they must pass along the burden to consumers in the form of higher prices.…”