Title 7, AgricultureRelease 119-110

§6809 Investigations and Power to Subpoena

Title 7 › CHAPTER 97 — FRESH CUT FLOWERS AND FRESH CUT GREENS PROMOTION AND INFORMATION › § 6809

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary may investigate when needed to run this law or to find out if someone broke it. For investigations, the Secretary can make people swear oaths, issue subpoenas, and require any relevant records from anywhere in the United States. In administrative hearings under 6807(a)(2) or 6808(c)(3), the hearing officer can also swear witnesses, call and force witnesses to attend, take evidence, and demand records from anywhere in the United States. If a person refuses to obey a subpoena, the Secretary can ask a U.S. court where the person lives, works, or where the matter is happening to enforce it. The court can order the person to comply, and failing to obey the court’s order can be punished as contempt. Process can be served where the person lives, works, or is found.

Full Legal Text

Title 7, §6809

Agriculture, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Investigations

The Secretary may make such investigations as the Secretary considers necessary for the effective administration of this chapter, or to determine whether any person has engaged or is engaging in any act that constitutes a violation of this chapter or any order or regulation issued under this chapter.

(b)Subpoenas, oaths, and affirmations

(1)Investigations

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

(2)Administrative hearings

For the purpose of an administrative hearing held under section 6807(a)(2) or 6808(c)(3) of this title, the presiding officer may administer oaths and affirmations, subpoena witnesses, compel the attendance of witnesses, take evidence, and require the production of any records that are relevant to the inquiry. The attendance of witnesses and the production of the records may be required from any place in the United States.

(c)Aid of courts

(1)In general

In the case of contumacy by, or refusal to obey a subpoena issued under subsection (b) to, any person, the Secretary may invoke the aid of any court of the United States within the jurisdiction of which the investigation or proceeding is conducted, or where the person resides or conducts business, in order to enforce a subpoena issued under subsection (b).

(2)Order

The court may issue an order requiring the person referred to in paragraph (1) to comply with a subpoena referred to in paragraph (1).

(3)Failure to obey

Any failure to obey the order of the court may be punished by the court as a contempt of court.

(4)Process

Process in any proceeding under this subsection may be served in the United States judicial district in which the person being proceeded against resides or conducts business or wherever the person may be found.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

7 U.S.C. § 6809

Title 7, Agriculture

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110