Investigations; records; reports; subpoenas; right to counsel

50 U.S.C. § 4555

• Title: 50 — War and National Defense
• Chapter: SUBCHAPTER III—GENERAL PROVISIONS

Text

(a) Authority of President to obtain information; enforcement of subpoenas
The President shall be entitled, while this chapter is in effect and for a period of two years thereafter, by regulation, subpoena, or otherwise, to obtain such information from, require such reports and the keeping of such records by, make such inspection of the books, records, and other writings, premises or property of, and take the sworn testimony of, and administer oaths and affirmations to, any person as may be necessary or appropriate, in his discretion, to the enforcement or the administration of this chapter and the regulations or orders issued thereunder. The authority of the President under this section includes the authority to obtain information in order to perform industry studies assessing the capabilities of the United States industrial base to support the national defense. The President shall issue regulations insuring that the authority of this subsection will be utilized only after the scope and purpose of the investigation, inspection, or inquiry to be made have been defined by competent authority, and it is assured that no adequate and authoritative data are available from any Federal or other responsible agency. In case of contumacy by, or refusal to obey a subpoena served upon, any person referred to in this subsection, the district court of the United States for any district in which such person is found or resides or transacts business, upon application by the President, shall have jurisdiction to issue an order requiring such person to appear and give testimony or to appear and produce documents, or both; and any failure to obey such order of the court may be punished by such court as a contempt thereof.
(b) Production of documentary evidence; reimbursement of witnesses
The production of a person's books, records, or other documentary evidence shall not be required at any place other than the place where such person usually keeps them, if, prior to the return date specified in the regulations, subpoena, or other document issued with respect thereto, such person furnishes the President with a true copy of such books, records, or other documentary evidence (certified by such person under oath to be a true and correct copy) or enters into a stipulation with the President as to the information contained in such books, records, or other documentary evidence. Witnesses shall be paid the same fees and mileage that are paid witnesses in the courts of the United States.
(c) Performance of prohibited act or failure to perform required act
Any person who willfully performs any act prohibited or willfully fails to perform any act required by the above provisions of this section, or any rule, regulation, or order thereunder, shall upon conviction be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned for not more than one year or both.
(d) Protection of confidentiality; sanction for violation
Information obtained under this section which the President deems confidential or with reference to which a request for confidential treatment is made by the person furnishing such information shall not be published or disclosed unless the President determines that the withholding thereof is contrary to the interest of the national defense, and any person willfully violating this provision shall, upon conviction, be fined not more than $10,000, or imprisoned for not more than one year, or both.
(e) Right to record of testimony and representation by counsel
Any person subpoenaed under this section shall have the right to make a record of his testimony and to be represented by counsel.

History

(Sept. 8, 1950, ch. 932, title VII, §705, 64 Stat. 816; July 31, 1951, ch. 275, title I, §109(d), 65 Stat. 139; June 30, 1952, ch. 530, title I, §117, 66 Stat. 306; June 30, 1953, ch. 171, §9, 67 Stat. 131; Pub. L. 91–452, title II, §251, Oct. 15, 1970, 84 Stat. 931; Pub. L. 102–558, title I, §142, Oct. 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 4217; Pub. L. 108–195, §4, Dec. 19, 2003, 117 Stat. 2893.)

Editorial Notes

Termination of Section
For termination of section, see section 4564(a) of this title.

Editorial Notes

References in Text
This chapter, referred to in subsec. (a), was in the original "this Act", meaning act Sept. 8, 1950, ch. 932, 64 Stat. 798, known as the Defense Production Act of 1950, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 4501 of this title and Tables.

Codification
Section was formerly classified to section 2155 of the former Appendix to this title prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.

Amendments
2003—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 108–195 inserted after first sentence "The authority of the President under this section includes the authority to obtain information in order to perform industry studies assessing the capabilities of the United States industrial base to support the national defense."
1992—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 102–558, §142(1), substituted "subpoena" for "subpena" in two places.
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 102–558, §142(1), (2), redesignated subsec. (c) as (b) and substituted "subpoena" for "subpena".
Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 102–558, §142(2), (3), redesignated subsec. (d) as (c) and substituted "$10,000" for "$1,000". Former subsec. (c) redesignated (b).
Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 102–558, §142(2), (4), redesignated subsec. (e) as (d) and struck out second undesignated par. which read as follows: "All information obtained by the Office of Price Stabilization under this section, as amended, and not made public prior to April 30, 1953, shall be deemed confidential and shall not be published or disclosed, either to the public or to another Federal agency except the Congress or any duly authorized committee thereof, and except the Department of Justice for such use as it may deem necessary in the performance of its functions, unless the President determines that the withholding thereof is contrary to the interests of the national defense, and any person willfully violating this provision shall, upon conviction, be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned for not more than one year, or both." Former subsec. (d) redesignated (c).
Subsecs. (e), (f). Pub. L. 102–558, §142(2), (5), redesignated subsec. (f) as (e) and substituted "subpoenaed" for "subpenaed". Former subsec. (e) redesignated (d).
1970—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 91–452 struck out subsec. (b) which related to immunity from prosecution of any natural person compelled to testify or produce evidence, documentary or otherwise, after claiming his privilege against self-incrimination, and that any such immunity granted would not be construed to vest in any individual any right to priorities assistance, to the allocation of materials, or to any other benefit within the power of the President to grant under sections 4501 to 4564 of this title.
1953—Subsec. (e). Act June 30, 1953, added second par.
1952—Subsec. (f). Act June 30, 1952, added subsec. (f).
1951—Subsec. (a). Act July 31, 1951, made it clear that President has authority to administer oaths and affirmations.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1992 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 102–558 deemed to have become effective Mar. 1, 1992, see section 304 of Pub. L. 102–558, set out as a note under section 4502 of this title.

Effective Date of 1970 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 91–452 effective on sixtieth day following Oct. 15, 1970, and not to affect any immunity to which any individual is entitled under this section by reason of any testimony given before sixtieth day following Oct. 15, 1970, see section 260 of Pub. L. 91–452, set out as an Effective Date; Savings Provision note under section 6001 of Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure.

Executive Documents

Delegation of Functions
Authority of President to implement the Defense Production Act of 1950 (this chapter) in this subchapter—
(1) with respect to hoarding of health and medical resources necessary to respond to the spread of COVID–19 within the United States delegated to Secretary of Health and Human Services, see section 2(a)(ii) of Ex. Ord. 13910, Mar. 23, 2020, 85 F.R. 17001, set out as a note under section 4512 of this title;
(2) with respect to responding to the spread of COVID–19 within the United States delegated to Secretary of Health and Human Services and Secretary of Homeland Security, see section 2(a) of Ex. Ord. No. 13911, Mar. 27, 2020, 85 F.R. 18403, set out as a note under section 4511 of this title;
(3) in addition to the delegation of authority in Ex. Ord. No. 13911, delegated to Chief Executive Officer of the United States International Development Finance Corporation, see section 2 of Ex. Ord. No. 13922, May 14, 2020, 85 F.R. 30583, set out as a note under section 4532 of this title; and
(4) with respect to addressing the national energy emergency declared under Ex. Ord. No. 14156, Jan. 20, 2025, 90 F.R. 8433, set out as a note under section 1621 of this title, delegated to the Chief Executive Officer of the United States International Development Finance Corporation, see section 6(d) of Ex. Ord. No. 14241, Mar. 20, 2025, 90 F.R. 13673, set out as a note under section 1601 of Title 30, Mineral Lands and Mining.
Functions of President under this chapter relating to production, conservation, use, control, distribution, and allocation of energy, delegated to Secretary of Energy, see section 4 of Ex. Ord. No. 11790, June 25, 1974, 39 F.R. 23185, set out as a note under section 761 of Title 15, Commerce and Trade.