Title 7, AgricultureRelease 119-110

§6308 Investigations and Power to Subpoena

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

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary can investigate whenever needed to run the program and to find people who broke the rules. The Secretary can make people promise to tell the truth, and can order anyone to turn over records that matter to the investigation. These orders can reach people and records anywhere in the United States. For administrative hearings under this law, the hearing officer can also swear witnesses, call and require witnesses to come, take evidence, and demand records. If someone ignores a subpoena, the Secretary can go to a federal court where the person lives or does business and ask the court to enforce the order. The court can force compliance and punish refusal. Papers can be served where the person lives, works, or is found, and hearings 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)Investigations

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)Subpoenas, oaths, and affirmations

(1)In general

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)Administrative hearings

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)Aid of courts

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)Contempt

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

(e)Process

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)Hearing site

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

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110