Title 7 — AgricultureRelease 119-73

§6308 Investigations and power to subpoena

Title 7 › Chapter CHAPTER 92— - SOYBEAN PROMOTION, RESEARCH, AND CONSUMER INFORMATION › § 6308

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary may investigate when needed to run this law and to find out if someone broke it or any rules under it. For an investigation, the Secretary can make people swear under oath and issue subpoenas to get any records that matter, and those records can be required from anywhere in the United States. At administrative hearings held under sections 6306 or 6307, the presiding officer can also give oaths, subpoena witnesses, make them attend, take evidence, and require records from anywhere in the United States. If a person refuses to obey a subpoena, the Secretary can ask a federal court where the case is happening or where the person lives or does business to force compliance. The court can order the person to follow the subpoena, and failing to obey the court’s order can be punished as contempt. Legal papers can be served where the person lives, does business, or is found, and hearings under sections 6306 or 6307 must be held in the judicial district where the person lives or has a main business.

Full Legal Text

Title 7, §6308

Agriculture — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Secretary may make such investigations as the Secretary considers necessary—

(1)for the effective administration of this chapter; and

(2)to determine whether any person has engaged or is engaging in any act that constitutes a violation of this chapter, or any order, rule, or regulation issued under this chapter.

(b)(1)For the purpose of an investigation under subsection (a), the Secretary may administer oaths and affirmations, and issue a subpoena to require the production of any records that are relevant to the inquiry. The production of any such records may be required from any place in the United States.

(2)For the purpose of an administrative hearing held under section 6306 or 6307 of this title, the presiding officer is authorized to administer oaths and affirmations, subpoena witnesses, compel their attendance, take evidence, and require the production of any records that are relevant to the inquiry. Such attendance of witnesses and the production of any such records may be required from any place in the United States.

(c)In the case of contumacy by, or refusal to obey a subpoena issued to, any person, the Secretary may invoke the aid of any court of the United States within the jurisdiction of which such investigation or proceeding is carried on, or where such person resides or carries on business, in order to enforce a subpoena issued by the Secretary under subsection (b). The court may issue an order requiring such person to comply with such a subpoena.

(d)Any failure to obey an order of the court under this section may be punished by such court as a contempt thereof.

(e)Process in any such case may be served in the judicial district in which such person resides or conducts business or wherever such person may be found.

(f)The site of any hearings held under section 6306 or 6307 of this title shall be within the judicial district where such person resides or has a principal place of business.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

7 U.S.C. § 6308

Title 7 — Agriculture

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73