Porch Pirates Act of 2025

Bill Number

H.R. 6924

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Crime and Law Enforcement

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-12-23: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Last Updated

2026-01-27T13:28:47Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The Porch Pirates Act of 2025 aims to protect packages and items left for pickup by private or commercial delivery services (like UPS or FedEx) from theft, by treating them as part of interstate or foreign commerce. This extends federal safeguards to prevent "porch piracy," where thieves steal deliveries left at homes before the recipient claims them.

Key Provisions

• Short Title: The bill is named the "Porch Pirates Act of 2025."
• Sense of Congress: Declares that Congress has the power to apply the same protections to items left for collection by private or commercial interstate carriers as those already in transit across state lines or internationally.
• Amendment to Existing Law: Modifies Section 659 of Title 18, United States Code (which covers theft from interstate shipments):
• Adds a new paragraph making it a federal crime to embezzle, steal, unlawfully take, carry away, or obtain by fraud or deception any package or article delivered by a private or commercial interstate carrier, if the recipient or their agent has not yet taken physical possession.
• This applies specifically to items left for collection, such as on a porch or doorstep.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Previously, Section 659 protected items only while they were actively in the custody of carriers during interstate or foreign transport.
• The bill expands this to cover the brief period after delivery but before the recipient picks up the item, closing a gap in federal protections for common delivery practices.
• It integrates this new protection seamlessly into the existing structure of the law by adding a paragraph and minor punctuation adjustments.

Potential Impacts

• On Citizens: Increases security for online shoppers and recipients of mail-order items, potentially reducing theft losses and encouraging safer delivery options; federal involvement could lead to quicker prosecutions of thieves.
• On Government Agencies: Empowers the Department of Justice and federal law enforcement (e.g., FBI) to investigate and prosecute these thefts, shifting some cases from local police to federal jurisdiction, which may strain resources but provide broader tools like wiretaps or interstate coordination.
• On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though it could indirectly support smoother cross-border e-commerce by protecting international shipments during final delivery.
• Broader Effects: May deter porch thefts nationwide, but could increase federal court caseloads for what were often treated as minor local misdemeanors.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Consumers and Recipients: Primary beneficiaries, gaining federal-level protection against theft of delivered goods.
• Private and Commercial Carriers (e.g., UPS, FedEx, Amazon Logistics): Benefit from reduced liability and theft risks, potentially lowering insurance costs and improving service reliability.
• Law Enforcement and Prosecutors: Federal agencies gain new authority, while local police may see fewer low-level theft cases.
• Perpetrators (Thieves): Face harsher federal penalties (up to 10 years imprisonment under Section 659, depending on value), increasing deterrence.
• E-commerce Businesses: Indirectly supported, as secure deliveries boost consumer confidence in online shopping.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Strengthens federal criminal jurisdiction over thefts tied to interstate commerce, potentially allowing harsher penalties (e.g., fines and imprisonment) than state laws; however, it may lead to debates over whether "left for collection" qualifies as interstate activity, requiring courts to interpret the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution (which gives Congress power over interstate trade).
• Constitutional: The bill's "Sense of Congress" asserts authority under the Commerce Clause, but critics might challenge if it overreaches into local matters like neighborhood thefts; no direct conflicts with other rights are apparent.
• Political: Bipartisan support (introduced by a mix of Democrats and Republicans) highlights a non-partisan issue of consumer protection amid rising e-commerce; it could set a precedent for federalizing other delivery-related crimes, influencing future legislation on logistics and privacy in shipping.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]

Cosponsors (9)

Rep. Van Drew, Jefferson [R-NJ-2], Rep. Van Duyne, Beth [R-TX-24], Rep. Moskowitz, Jared [D-FL-23], Rep. Peters, Scott H. [D-CA-50], Rep. Rutherford, John H. [R-FL-5], Rep. Kim, Young [R-CA-40], Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24], Rep. Pappas, Chris [D-NH-1], Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19]

Recent Actions

• 2025-12-23: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
• 2025-12-23: Introduced in House
• 2025-12-23: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Porch Pirates Act of 2025 — issued 2025-12-23 — PDF (2 pages)