Title 7 — AgricultureRelease 119-73not60

§7488 Investigations and Power to Subpoena

Title 7 › Chapter 101— AGRICULTURAL PROMOTION › Subchapter V— POPCORN › § 7488

Last updated Apr 3, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary can investigate when needed to run this part of the law or to see if someone has broken it or is about to. To do that, the Secretary can make people swear oaths, order witnesses to appear and give testimony, collect evidence, and require relevant records from anywhere in the United States. If someone ignores a subpoena or refuses to comply, the Secretary can ask a federal court to force them to appear or turn over records. The court can order compliance, and failing to obey that order can be punished as contempt. Papers can be served where the person lives, works, or is found.

Full Legal Text

Title 7, §7488

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 subchapter; and

(2)to determine whether any person subject to this subchapter has engaged, or is about to engage, in an act that constitutes or will constitute a violation of this subchapter or of an order or regulation issued under this subchapter.

(b)For the purpose of an investigation under subsection (a), the Secretary 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 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 to, any person, the Secretary may request the aid of any court of the United States within the jurisdiction of which the investigation or proceeding is carried on, or where the person resides or carries on business, in requiring the attendance and testimony of the person and the production of records.

(2)The court may issue an enforcement order requiring the person to appear before the Secretary to produce records or to give testimony concerning the matter under investigation.

(3)A failure to obey an enforcement order of the court under paragraph (2) may be punished by the court as a contempt of the court.

(4)Process in a case under this subsection may be served in the judicial district in which the person resides or carries on business or wherever the person may be found.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

7 U.S.C. § 7488

Title 7 — Agriculture

Last Updated

Apr 3, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60