---
kind: "section"
citation: "29 U.S.C. § 2616"
title: "29"
title_heading: "Labor"
number: "2616"
heading: "Investigative authority"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/29/2616"
units:
  - "Chapter 28 — Family and Medical Leave"
  - "Subchapter I — General Requirements for Leave"
---

# §2616. Investigative authority

- (a) **In general—** To ensure compliance with the provisions of this subchapter, or any regulation or order issued under this subchapter, the [Secretary](/usc/29/2611.md?p=10) shall have, subject to [subsection (c)](#c), the investigative authority provided under [section 211(a) of this title](/usc/29/211.md?p=a).
- (b) **Obligation to keep and preserve records—** Any [employer](/usc/29/2611.md?p=4-A) shall make, keep, and preserve records pertaining to compliance with this subchapter in accordance with [section 211(c) of this title](/usc/29/211.md?p=c) and in accordance with regulations issued by the [Secretary](/usc/29/2611.md?p=10).
- (c) **Required submissions generally limited to annual basis—** The [Secretary](/usc/29/2611.md?p=10) shall not under the authority of this section require any [employer](/usc/29/2611.md?p=4-A) or any plan, fund, or program to submit to the [Secretary](/usc/29/2611.md?p=10) any books or records more than once during any 12-month period, unless the [Secretary](/usc/29/2611.md?p=10) has reasonable cause to believe there may exist a violation of this subchapter or any regulation or order issued pursuant to this subchapter, or is investigating a charge pursuant to [section 2617(b) of this title](/usc/29/2617.md?p=b).
- (d) **Subpoena powers—** For the purposes of any investigation provided for in this section, the [Secretary](/usc/29/2611.md?p=10) shall have the subpoena authority provided for under [section 209 of this title](/usc/29/209.md).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 103–3, title I, § 106, Feb. 5, 1993, 107 Stat. 15.)

## Notes

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective 6 months after Feb. 5, 1993, except that, in the case of collective bargaining agreements in effect on that effective date, section applicable on the earlier of (1) the date of termination of such agreement, or (2) the date that occurs 12 months after Feb. 5, 1993, see section 405(b) of Pub. L. 103–3, set out as a note under section 2601 of this title.