Press Release
NBWA Applauds House Passage of Legislation to Combat Organized Cargo Theft
National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) President and CEO Craig Purser issued the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives yesterday passed the bipartisan Combating Organized Retail Crime Act (CORCA) by a vote of 348 to 60:
“As sophisticated criminal enterprises increasingly target beer and beverage distributors, this bipartisan bill is an important step to address these crimes.
NBWA members advocated for passage of this legislation at our recent Legislative Conference to help improve public safety, enhance coordination between law enforcement agencies and strengthen penalties for perpetrators. In particular, the inclusion of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) within the bill’s Organized Retail and Supply Chain Crime Coordination Center will help prioritize alcohol theft and diversion.
We want to thank the bill sponsors, U.S. Representatives Dave Joyce (R-OH) and Susie Lee (D-NV), and we urge the Senate to pass this important legislation to help improve coordination on stolen goods across the federal government. Once enacted, NBWA looks forward to working with ATF and the Coordination Center to help industry and the states address the increase in stolen alcohol and prevent its resale into the regulated three-tier system.”
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The National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) represents America’s 3,000 independent beer distributors who service every state, congressional district and media market across the country. Licensed at the federal and state levels, beer distributors get bottles, cans, cases and kegs from a brewer or importer to stores, restaurants and other licensed retail accounts through a transparent and accountable regulatory system.
Distributors build brands of all sizes – from familiar domestic beers to new startup labels and imports from around the world – and generate enormous consumer choice while supporting more than 135,000 quality jobs in their home communities. Beer distributors work locally to keep communities safe by sponsoring programs to promote responsible consumption, combat drunk driving and reduce underage drinking.