---
kind: "section"
citation: "15 U.S.C. § 8709"
title: "15"
title_heading: "Commerce and Trade"
number: "8709"
heading: "Investigation and power to subpoena"
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/15/8709"
units:
  - "Chapter 113 — Concrete Masonry Products Research, Education, and Promotion"
---

# §8709. Investigation and power to subpoena

- (a) **Investigations—** The [Secretary](/usc/15/8702.md?p=18) may conduct such investigations as the [Secretary](/usc/15/8702.md?p=18) considers necessary for the effective [administration](/usc/15/636e.md?p=1) of this chapter, or to determine whether any [person](/usc/15/8702.md?p=15) has engaged or is engaging in any act that constitutes a violation of this chapter or any [order](/usc/15/8702.md?p=14) or regulation issued under this chapter.
- (b) **Subpoenas, oaths, and affirmations—**
  - (1) **Investigations—** For the purpose of conducting an investigation under [subsection (a)](#a), the [Secretary](/usc/15/8702.md?p=18) 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 production of the records may be required from any place in the [United States](/usc/15/8702.md?p=19).
  - (2) **Administrative hearings—** For the purpose of an administrative hearing held under [section 8707(a)(2) of this title](/usc/15/8707.md?p=a-2) or [section 8708(c)(4) of this title](/usc/15/8708.md?p=c-4), 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](/usc/15/8702.md?p=19).
- (c) **Aid of courts—**
  - (1) **In general—** In the case of contumacy by, or refusal to obey a subpoena issued under [subsection (b)](#b) to, any [person](/usc/15/8702.md?p=15), the [Secretary](/usc/15/8702.md?p=18) may invoke the aid of any court of the [United States](/usc/15/8702.md?p=19) within the jurisdiction of which the investigation or proceeding is conducted, or where the [person](/usc/15/8702.md?p=15) resides or conducts business, in [order](/usc/15/8702.md?p=14) to enforce a subpoena issued under [subsection (b)](#b).
  - (2) **Order—** The court may issue an [order](/usc/15/8702.md?p=14) requiring the [person](/usc/15/8702.md?p=15) referred to in [paragraph (1)](#c-1) to comply with a subpoena referred to in [paragraph (1)](#c-1).
  - (3) **Failure to obey—** Any failure to obey the [order](/usc/15/8702.md?p=14) 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](/usc/15/8702.md?p=19) judicial district in which the [person](/usc/15/8702.md?p=15) being proceeded against resides or conducts business, or wherever the [person](/usc/15/8702.md?p=15) may be found.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 115–254, div. E, § 1310, Oct. 5, 2018, 132 Stat. 3482.)