---
kind: "section"
citation: "15 U.S.C. § 9591"
title: "15"
title_heading: "Commerce and Trade"
number: "9591"
heading: "Administrative powers"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/15/9591"
units:
  - "Chapter 120 — Minority Business Development"
  - "Subchapter VII — Administrative Powers of the Agency; Miscellaneous Provisions"
---

# §9591. Administrative powers

- (a) **In general—** In carrying out this chapter, the [Under Secretary](/usc/15/9501.md?p=19) may—
  - (1) adopt and use a seal for the [Agency](/usc/15/9501.md?p=1), which shall be judicially noticed;
  - (2) hold hearings, sit and act, and take testimony as the [Under Secretary](/usc/15/9501.md?p=19) may determine to be necessary or appropriate to carry out this chapter;
  - (3) acquire, in any lawful manner, any property that the [Under Secretary](/usc/15/9501.md?p=19) determines to be necessary or appropriate to carry out this chapter;
  - (4) with the consent of another [Federal agency](/usc/15/9501.md?p=4), enter into an [agreement](/usc/15/7a.md?p=2) with that [Federal agency](/usc/15/9501.md?p=4) to utilize, with or without reimbursement, any service, equipment, personnel, or facility of that [Federal agency](/usc/15/9501.md?p=4);
  - (5) coordinate with the heads of the Offices of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization of [Federal agencies](/usc/15/9501.md?p=4);
  - (6) develop procedures under which the [Under Secretary](/usc/15/9501.md?p=19) may evaluate the compliance of a recipient of assistance under this chapter with the requirements of this chapter;
  - (7) deobligate assistance provided under this chapter to a recipient that has demonstrated an insufficient level of performance with respect to the assistance, or has engaged in wasteful or fraudulent spending; and
  - (8) provide that a recipient of assistance under this chapter that has demonstrated an insufficient level of performance with respect to the assistance, or has engaged in wasteful or fraudulent spending, shall be ineligible to receive assistance under this chapter for a period determined by the [Under Secretary](/usc/15/9501.md?p=19), consistent with the considerations under section 180.865 of title 2, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulation), beginning on the date on which the [Under Secretary](/usc/15/9501.md?p=19) makes the applicable finding.
- (b) **Use of property—**
  - (1) **In general—** Subject to [paragraph (2)](#b-2), in carrying out this chapter, the [Under Secretary](/usc/15/9501.md?p=19) may, without cost (except for costs of care and handling), allow any [public sector entity](/usc/15/9501.md?p=12), or any recipient nonprofit organization, for the purpose of the development of [minority business enterprises](/usc/15/9501.md?p=9-A), to use any real or tangible personal property acquired by the [Agency](/usc/15/9501.md?p=1) in carrying out this chapter.
  - (2) **Terms, conditions, reservations, and restrictions—** The [Under Secretary](/usc/15/9501.md?p=19) may impose reasonable terms, conditions, reservations, and restrictions upon the use of any property under [paragraph (1)](#b-1).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 117–58, div. K, title VII, § 100701, Nov. 15, 2021, 135 Stat. 1464.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

This chapter, referred to in subsecs. (a) and (b)(1), was in the original “this division” or “this Act”, meaning div. K of Pub. L. 117–58, Nov. 15, 2021, 135 Stat. 1445, known as the Minority Business Development Act of 2021, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 9501 of this title and Tables.