What started as a fight in the states between e-commerce and brick-and-mortar retailers over how to address the epidemic of organized retail theft has become a joint lobbying campaign aimed at spurring Congress to action in the lame-duck session. 

More than 70 companies and organizations – including many that frequently find themselves on opposing sides, like Amazon and Walmart – signed a letter to congressional leaders on Oct. 4 urging passage of a measure to require more disclosure from high-volume, third-party sellers of new or unused goods on online marketplaces.

The bill, dubbed the INFORM Act, is meant to combat the sales of stolen goods, many of which are pilfered at brick-and-mortar outlets, and the sale of counterfeit goods. Supporters of the bill want to see it attached to the annual National Defense Authorization Act which must pass by the end of the year.