Title 7 — AgricultureRelease 119-73not60

§6809 Investigations and Power to Subpoena

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

Last updated Apr 3, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary can investigate when needed to run the program well or to find out if someone broke the rules. To do that, the Secretary can make people swear oaths and can order the production of records that matter to the inquiry from anywhere in the United States. At administrative hearings, the hearing officer can also take sworn testimony, order witnesses to attend, collect evidence, and require relevant records from anywhere in the United States. If someone refuses a subpoena, the Secretary can ask a federal court where the person lives, works, or where the case is happening to force compliance. The court can order obedience, and not following the court’s order can be punished as contempt.

Full Legal Text

Title 7, §6809

Agriculture — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)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)(1)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)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)(1)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)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)Any failure to obey the order of the court may be punished by the court as a contempt of court.

(4)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

Apr 3, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60