House Passes Bipartisan Housing Bill Targeting Corporate Homebuyers
Fed Up with Smash-and-Grab Crime? Washington Finally Wakes Up—But Can We Trust the Vote?
If you feel like you can’t go to the local pharmacy without seeing everyday items locked behind plexiglass, you aren’t alone. For the past few years, hardworking Americans have watched with growing frustration as organized retail theft and smash-and-grab robberies have turned our local storefronts into crime scenes.
Now, Washington is finally taking notice. This week, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed the CORCA Act (Combating Organized Retail Crime Act)—a major step toward restoring order to our streets and supply chains.
But in a deeply divided Washington, the near-unanimous 396-13 vote has sparked immediate suspicion. When politicians who have spent years turning a blind eye to crime suddenly vote for a crackdown, it leaves many seasoned Americans asking a simple question: What’s the catch?
The True Cost of Lawlessness
We aren't just talking about teenagers stealing candy bars. Today’s retail theft is a sophisticated, transnational criminal enterprise. Coordinated rings are sweeping through our communities, from California’s Central Valley to Florida’s bustling ports.
The numbers are staggering, and they directly impact the wallets of seniors and families on fixed incomes:
$121.6 Billion Lost: The total cost of retail theft in 2023 alone, according to the National Retail Federation.
93% Surge: The explosive increase in retail crime incidents between 2019 and 2023.
27% Spike in Cargo Theft: Criminals are now hijacking the very supply chains that deliver our essential goods.
These criminal networks use stolen merchandise to fund darker operations, including money laundering and international trafficking. Representative David Valadao recently highlighted exactly what is at stake: small businesses are being crushed, and middle-class Americans are paying the price at the register.
A Return to Common Sense: What the CORCA Act Does
As President Trump’s administration advances the 2026 Restoration agenda to reclaim national stability, the CORCA Act provides law enforcement with the teeth they need.
Instead of a slap on the wrist, the act:
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Equips federal and local authorities to dismantle the money laundering pipelines funding these crime rings.
Creates an Organized Retail and Supply Chain Crime Coordination Center within Homeland Security to track and take down illegal resale networks.
Closes international loopholes that foreign crime syndicates use to exploit American businesses.
For those who remember the safer streets and stronger communities of the Reagan era, this legislation represents a long-overdue return to commonsense governance. It prioritizes the safety of law-abiding citizens over policies of endless leniency.
The 396-13 Vote: A Rare Consensus or Political Cover?
Despite the good news, the lopsided House vote has generated outrage and calls for a recount. Why? Because the sudden unity feels suspicious.
Many patriotic Americans view the minimal opposition as an attempt by some lawmakers to mask their past resistance to law and order. This sudden bipartisan cheerleading stands in stark contrast to the bitter fights over border security and the ongoing partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security.
Speaker Mike Johnson has been pushing to secure our borders and bolster enforcement—priorities the American public overwhelmingly supports. Yet, the reluctance of some politicians to fully back these broader safety measures reveals a troubling reality: a lingering hesitation to permanently dismantle the progressive policies that let crime flourish in the first place.
Reclaiming Our Communities
We have paid a steep financial and societal price for Washington's inaction. Allowing coordinated crime rings to exploit our system doesn't just empty store shelves; it erodes the community trust and personal responsibility that form the bedrock of our great nation.
With President Trump expected to sign the measure into law during Police Week, we are seeing a renewed commitment to actual results over political rhetoric.
The calls for a vote recount highlight a healthy, understandable skepticism among the American public. We know that preserving our constitutional republic requires unyielding vigilance. By demanding strict enforcement of these new laws and refusing to tolerate a return to lenient policies, we can ensure that the era of unpunished crime finally comes to an end—leaving a safer, more prosperous America for our children and grandchildren.
Thune Pushes For Senate To Pass Graham’s Russia Sanctions Bill
One of Sen. Lindsey Graham’s final priorities before his unexpected death may still become law, according to Senate Majority Leader John Thune.
The Republican leader said Monday that passing a bipartisan sanctions package targeting Russia would not only advance U.S. policy toward Ukraine but also serve as a lasting tribute to Graham’s decades of work on national security.
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Thune, R-S.D., said he remains optimistic that the Senate can pass the sweeping Russia sanctions legislation Graham championed before his death, calling it a fitting way to honor the late South Carolina senator’s legacy.
Graham died Saturday at the age of 71. According to a statement released by his office, the preliminary cause of death was an acute aortic dissection caused by arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
On Monday, South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster appointed Graham’s younger sister, Darline Graham Nordone, to temporarily fill the Senate seat until voters elect a successor in November.
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Graham had spent much of his final months urging Congress to impose tougher economic sanctions on Russia in response to its ongoing war against Ukraine.
Just one day before his death, Graham met in Kyiv with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, reaffirming his support for continued U.S. assistance and increased pressure on Moscow.
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Following news of Graham’s death, Zelenskyy said he was “deeply saddened” and praised the senator as one of Ukraine’s strongest supporters in Washington.
Appearing Monday on CNN, Thune told anchor Dana Bash that Graham’s sanctions bill remains a priority for Senate leadership.
When asked whether the legislation would still receive a vote, Thune said he was hopeful.
“I certainly hope that we can get there to do that,” Thune said.
He explained that the White House had worked closely with Graham on the proposal and noted that Democrats had also expressed support for the legislation.
According to Thune, the measure could ultimately receive between 80 and 90 votes in the Senate if lawmakers can agree on the final language.
“Lindsey had been working that issue for a long time,” Thune said.
“It’s one of those things he was very passionate about. He wants to see a free and independent Ukraine, as all of us do.”
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Thune also described economic sanctions as one of the most important foreign policy tools available to the United States.
“He was a big believer that economic sanctions are a huge tool for the president and his administration, for us to achieve that outcome,” Thune said.
The Senate majority leader suggested the sanctions package had become Graham’s top legislative priority during his final days.
“This sanctions bill was probably, in his last days, the thing that he cared the most about, in terms of an accomplishment,” Thune said.
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“So I’m hopeful we can get that done. It’s something we’ve been talking about for a long time.”
Thune concluded by saying passage of the legislation would become a lasting part of Graham’s legacy.
“It would certainly be an incredible legacy for him if, in fact, we could find a path forward,” he said.
“It’ll take Democrats and Republicans here in the Senate to do that. But I’m hopeful we can make that happen.”
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Although the legislation has broad bipartisan support, senators have not yet announced when it could receive a floor vote.
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If approved, the bill would represent one of the final policy victories tied directly to Graham’s decades-long focus on American national security and his unwavering support for Ukraine following Russia’s 2022 invasion, Mediaite
Whether Congress ultimately advances the legislation may now depend not only on political negotiations, but also on lawmakers’ desire to complete what many of Graham’s colleagues have described as his final major legislative mission.
