Sponsors (10)
The bill strengthens federal tools to reduce interstate package theft and related losses for consumers and businesses, but increases criminal exposure and legal uncertainty for carriers and individuals and may raise federal enforcement costs for taxpayers.
Recipients and shippers (consumers and businesses) gain stronger federal protection against interstate package theft, as law enforcement gets expanded tools to deter and prosecute theft, which may reduce lost property and replacement costs.
Carriers, low-level couriers, and bystanders face greater criminal exposure because broader federal theft offenses may bring more people under federal charges for mishandling or taking packages.
Carriers, recipients, and local governments face legal uncertainty because broad language (e.g., "by fraud or deception") could be applied ambiguously, increasing disputes over when federal theft has occurred.
Taxpayers may bear higher federal enforcement and incarceration costs if more theft cases are prosecuted at the federal level.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Expands the federal theft offense in 18 U.S.C. § 659 to cover packages and other articles delivered by private or commercial interstate carriers, making it a federal crime to embezzle, steal, unlawfully take, carry away, or by fraud or deception obtain such items before the addressee or the addressee’s agent has taken physical possession. The measure also includes a short title and a non-binding congressional opinion about federal authority over private interstate carriers but does not create new funding or regulatory programs.
Introduced December 23, 2025 by Josh S. Gottheimer · Last progress December 23, 2025