Whenever a witness summoned as mentioned in fails to appear to testify or fails to produce any books, papers, records, or documents, as required, or whenever any witness so summoned refuses to answer any question pertinent to the subject under inquiry before either House, or any joint committee established by a joint or concurrent resolution of the two Houses of Congress, or any committee or subcommittee of either House of Congress, and the fact of such failure or failures is reported to either House while Congress is in session or when Congress is not in session, a statement of fact constituting such failure is reported to and filed with the President of the Senate or the Speaker of the House, it shall be the duty of the said President of the Senate or Speaker of the House, as the case may be, to certify, and he shall so certify, the statement of facts aforesaid under the seal of the Senate or House, as the case may be, to the appropriate United States attorney, whose duty it shall be to bring the matter before the grand jury for its action.
Structure US Code
CHAPTER 6— CONGRESSIONAL AND COMMITTEE PROCEDURE; INVESTIGATIONS
§ 190. Repealed. S. Res. 4, § 301(b),
§§ 190a to 190a–2. Repealed. S. Res. 274, § 2(a),
§ 190a–3. Repealed. S. Res. 9, § 2,
§§ 190b, 190c. Repealed. S. Res. 274, § 2(a),
§ 190d. Legislative review by standing committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives
§ 190f. General appropriation bills
§ 190g. Nonconsideration of certain private bills and resolutions
§ 190h. Repealed. S. Res. 9, § 2,
§§ 190i to 190k. Repealed. S. Res. 274, § 2(b),
§ 190l. Private claims pending before Congress; taking of testimony
§ 190m. Subpoena for taking testimony; compensation of officers and witnesses; return of depositions
§ 192. Refusal of witness to testify or produce papers
§ 194. Certification of failure to testify or produce; grand jury action
§ 195. Fees of witnesses in District of Columbia
§ 196. Senate resolutions for investigations; limit of cost