Today, Senators Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) and Chris Coons (D-Del.) introduced the Auto Theft Prevention Act to create a new federal grant program to provide funding to state and local law enforcement agencies to combat auto theft and stolen automobile trafficking.
Create a new federal grant program to provide funding to state and local law enforcement agencies to combat auto theft and stolen automobile trafficking.
Occurrences
12-05-2025 S.1653 | USA CAR Act Latest Action: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Senator Moreno worked across the aisle with Senator Chris Coons to introduce the Auto Theft Prevention Act to create programs to provide funding to state and local law enforcement agencies to crack down on auto theft.
Mr. Coons (for himself, Mr. Moreno, and Ms. Rosen) introduced the following bill... Full Title To provide funding to State and local law enforcement agencies to combat auto theft and stolen automobile trafficking, and for other purposes.
Cosponsors include Bernie Moreno [R-OH].
Evidence
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WASHINGTON – Today, Senators Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) and Chris Coons (D-Del.) introduced the Auto Theft Prevention Act to create a new federal grant program to provide funding to state and local law enforcement agencies to combat auto theft and stolen automobile trafficking.
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Senator Moreno worked across the aisle with Senator Chris Coons to introduce the Auto Theft Prevention Act to create programs to provide funding to state and local law enforcement agencies to crack down on auto theft.
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WASHINGTON – Today, Senator Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) hosted a roundtable with local, state, and federal officials in Cincinnati to discuss the need for more law enforcement officers. In July, a violent mob attack occurred in Cincinnati and Senator Moreno has led the way in working with local officials to reach solutions to reduce crime, give law enforcement adequate resources, and safely secure the streets of Cincinnati to protect bystanders and allow local businesses to thrive.
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Action: Mr. Coons (for himself, Mr. Moreno, and Ms. Rosen) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. Short Title: Auto Theft Prevention Act. Full Title: To provide funding to State and local law enforcement agencies to combat auto theft and stolen automobile trafficking, and for other purposes.
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Tracker: Tip this bill has the status Introduced. Latest Action: Senate - 12/18/2025 Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. Sponsor: Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE] (Introduced 12/18/2025). Cosponsors include Bernie Moreno [R-OH].
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Action: Mr. Coons (for himself, Mr. Moreno, and Ms. Rosen) introduced the bill; it was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. Short title: Auto Theft Prevention Act.
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Tracker status: Introduced. Latest action: Senate - 12/18/2025 Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
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Senators Bernie Moreno and Chris Coons introduced the Auto Theft Prevention Act to create a new federal grant program to provide funding to state and local law enforcement agencies to combat auto theft and stolen automobile trafficking. The bill directs DOJ's COPS office to create an auto theft prevention grant program for states showing need for federal assistance.
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The bill text says Mr. Coons, Mr. Moreno, and Ms. Rosen introduced a bill to provide funding to state and local law enforcement agencies to combat auto theft and stolen automobile trafficking; it was read twice and referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee. Section 3 would require the COPS Director, not later than 60 days after enactment, to establish an auto theft prevention grant program.
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GovInfo's introduced-version record for S.3577 identifies the Auto Theft Prevention Act and states the bill was introduced by Mr. Coons for himself, Mr. Moreno, and Ms. Rosen, read twice, and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
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Congress.gov lists S.3577, the Auto Theft Prevention Act, with tracker status Introduced and latest action on December 18, 2025: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. Moreno is listed as a cosponsor.
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Congress.gov lists S.3577, the Auto Theft Prevention Act, with tracker status Introduced. The latest action remains Senate - 12/18/2025: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. The page lists Bernie Moreno [R-OH] as a cosponsor dated 12/18/2025 and shows no passage, presidential action, or public-law status.
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The introduced text says Mr. Coons, for himself, Mr. Moreno, and Ms. Rosen, introduced S.3577. Section 3 would require the DOJ COPS Director, not later than 60 days after enactment, to establish an auto theft prevention grant program for state and local law enforcement agencies to combat auto theft and stolen vehicle trafficking, with $30 million authorized for each fiscal year 2026 through 2030.
Assessments
Moreno materially advanced the promise by cosponsoring/introducing the Auto Theft Prevention Act, which would create the specified federal grant program for state and local law enforcement against auto theft and stolen vehicle trafficking. However, official bill status shows S.3577 remained introduced and referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee, with no passage, enactment, or implemented grant program. This is a serious same-term legislative attempt but not delivery of the promised outcome.
The promise was to create a new federal grant program, which requires enactment or another completed federal action establishing the program. The evidence shows Moreno materially advanced the idea by introducing and cosponsoring the Auto Theft Prevention Act in the 119th Congress, but the bill was only read twice and referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee, with Congress.gov listing its status as Introduced and no evidence of enactment or implementation. Under the federal office standard, this counts as a serious legislative effort that did not deliver the promised outcome.
Sen. Moreno co-sponsored and helped introduce the Auto Theft Prevention Act (S.3577) to create a federal grant program for state and local law enforcement, demonstrating a substantive legislative effort. The bill was read twice and referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee (introduced 12/18/2025) but there is no record it advanced out of committee or was enacted into law to create the grant program. Because the statutory program was not established, the campaign promise was not delivered despite the clear legislative attempt.
Senator Moreno made a concrete effort to fulfill the promise by co-authoring and introducing the Auto Theft Prevention Act that sought to create a federal grant program as described in the campaign promise. However, the available evidence only confirms introduction of legislation and related advocacy, with no indication of the bill being enacted into law or the grant program being established. Therefore, the promise was not delivered, but significant legislative effort was made.