From the Port of New Orleans to Shreveport and everywhere in between, freight transportation is the backbone of Louisiana’s economy. Railroads, truckers, ports, farmers, retailers, and manufacturers rely on a secure supply chain to move goods, support jobs, and keep costs down for families across the state. But today, that backbone is under growing threat from organized cargo theft and criminal networks that operate with increasing sophistication and little fear of consequence.

These aren’t isolated or victimless crimes. Organized theft rings target trains, trucks, and distribution hubs, stealing billions of dollars in goods each year. For the trucking industry alone, cargo theft costs an estimated $18 million every day. Class I railroads reported more than $100 million in losses in 2024 – a staggering 40 percent increase year over year. Those losses ripple outward, disrupting shipments, raising prices, and making it harder for Louisiana businesses to compete.

Louisiana knows this problem well. As a major logistics and freight hub home to one of the nation’s most important ports and a vast network of rail and highway corridors, the state is particularly vulnerable. Criminals are exploiting that scale, using drones to scout targets, sabotaging equipment to stop trains, and recruiting lookouts to evade law enforcement. In some cases, they arrive armed, putting workers and nearby communities at risk.

Industry is investing heavily to respond. Railroads and trucking companies spend tens of millions of dollars each year on security, technology, and personnel. But when crimes cross state lines and involve organized networks, private investment alone isn’t enough. Today, only about one in ten rail theft attempts results in an arrest, and repeat offenders too often return to the same crimes with minimal penalties.

That’s why federal action matters – and why Congress should move now. House Speaker Rep. Mike Johnson and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana can play an outsized role.

The Combating Organized Retail Crime Act, which advanced through the House Judiciary Committee this month, would give law enforcement the tools they need to dismantle these networks. It would strengthen coordination among the Department of Homeland Security, the FBI, and state and local agencies, while creating a national data-sharing system to track and disrupt organized theft operations. More than 90 organizations across retail, transportation, and logistics support the bill because they see the stakes clearly.

Just as important, this legislation aligns squarely with what the public wants: a serious crackdown on crime. Recent polling from LSU shows that most Louisiana residents believe crime has risen in recent years and, while many were not personally victimized, large shares know victims of property or violent crime – driving overwhelming support for tougher enforcement measures.

The Trump administration has made clear that restoring law and order is a priority, and addressing organized cargo theft is a natural part of that agenda. These crimes drive up costs, undermine economic confidence, and threaten workers and public safety.

Speaker Johnson and Majority Leader Scalise have both emphasized the importance of economic security, public safety, and supply chain resilience. Now is the moment to translate those priorities into action by bringing this bill to the House floor.

Protecting the supply chain isn’t a partisan issue. It’s about safeguarding Louisiana jobs, keeping goods moving, and ensuring that families don’t pay the price for unchecked crime. Congress has already taken the first step. It’s time to finish the job.

Ian Jefferies is president and CEO of the Association of American Railroads. Chris Spear is president and CEO of the American Trucking Associations.