Title 29LaborRelease 119-73

§521 Investigations by Secretary; applicability of other laws

Title 29 › Chapter CHAPTER 11— - LABOR-MANAGEMENT REPORTING AND DISCLOSURE PROCEDURE › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER VII— - MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS › § 521

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary can investigate when needed to find out if someone has broken or is about to break any rule in this chapter, except subchapter II. The Secretary may enter places, inspect records and accounts, and question people to learn the facts, and may tell interested people or officials the findings and reasons for failing or refusing to file required reports. For these investigations, sections 49 and 50 of title 15 apply, so the Secretary or officers he names can require witnesses to attend and produce books, papers, and documents.

Full Legal Text

Title 29, §521

Labor — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Secretary shall have power when he believes it necessary in order to determine whether any person has violated or is about to violate any provision of this chapter (except subchapter II of this chapter) to make an investigation and in connection therewith he may enter such places and inspect such records and accounts and question such persons as he may deem necessary to enable him to determine the facts relative thereto. The Secretary may report to interested persons or officials concerning the facts required to be shown in any report required by this chapter and concerning the reasons for failure or refusal to file such a report or any other matter which he deems to be appropriate as a result of such an investigation.
(b)For the purpose of any investigation provided for in this chapter, the provisions of section 49 and 50 of title 15 (relating to the attendance of witnesses and the production of books, papers, and documents), are made applicable to the jurisdiction, powers, and duties of the Secretary or any officers designated by him.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The phrase “this chapter (except subchapter II of this chapter)”, referred to in subsec. (a), was in the original “this Act (except title I or

Amendments

made by this Act to other statutes)”. “This chapter”, referred to later in subsec. (a) and also in subsec. (b), was in the original “this Act”. “This Act” is Pub. L. 86–257, Sept. 14, 1959, 73 Stat. 519, as amended, known as the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959, which enacted this chapter, amended section 153, 158, 159, 160, 164, 186, and 187 of this title, and enacted provisions set out as notes under section 153, 158, and 481 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 401 of this title and Tables.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

29 U.S.C. § 521

Title 29Labor

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73