Sec. 621. Availability of civil action to enforce House of Representatives subpoenas
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/bill/117/hr/2055/ih/section-621·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
The House of Representatives may in a civil action obtain any appropriate relief to enforce compliance with a subpoena or order of the House, or to enforce compliance with a subpoena or order issued by a committee or subcommittee of the House authorized to issue a subpoena or order, if the House by resolution authorizes the commencement of that civil action. Unless the House otherwise provides, the Office of the General Counsel of the House of Representatives shall represent the House in the civil action.
Personal jurisdiction of the court over a defendant in a civil action under this section extends outside the territorial jurisdiction of the court if the claim— arose out of conduct by the defendant— within that territorial jurisdiction, or causing any injury, including informational injury to the right of the House to make an investigation, within that territorial jurisdiction; or otherwise has a reasonable relationship to contacts of the defendant with the territorial jurisdiction.
In any civil action brought under this section, if the court has determined that the information or material which is the subject of the subpoena or order involved is presumptively privileged based upon the President’s generalized interest in confidentiality, the House may overcome this presumption by showing that— the House, or a committee or subcommittee thereof, has a specific need for the information or material in order to carry out its constitutional obligations; and the information is not otherwise available.
If the court determines that the House, or a committee or subcommittee thereof, has made the showing described in paragraph (1), it shall enforce the subpoena or order involved. The court shall hear and determine a civil action under this section as expeditiously as possible, and to the maximum extent practicable during the Congress in which the action is commenced. Any appellate proceedings relating to such a civil action shall similarly be expedited to assure to the extent possible that the matter is fully resolved during the Congress in which the action was commenced.