A bill to provide for nationwide service of subpoenas in all suits involving the False Claims Act, and for other purposes.
PL 95-582 (H.R.12393), enacted 11/02/1978

PUBLIC LAW 95-582—NOV. 2, 1978 
92 STAT. 2479 
Public Law 95-582 
95th Congress 
An Act 
To provide for nationwide service of subpoenas in all suits involving the False 
Claims Act, and for other purposes. 
Nov. 2, 1978 
'[H.R. 12393] 
Subpoenas, 
nationwide 
service in certain 
suits. 
31 use 
231-235. 
Seizure and 
forfeiture, 
exceptions. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assemhled, That section 3491 of 
the Kevised Statutes, as amended (31 U.S.C. 232), is amended by add-
ing a new subsection (F), as follows: 
(F) A subpoena requiring the attendance of a witness at a trial or 
hearing conducted under sections 3490 through 3494 and 5438 of the 
Revised Statutes, as amended, may be served at any place in the United 
States.". 
SEC. 2. Section 274 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
1324) is amended by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (c) and 
adding a new subsection (b) as follows: 
"(b)(1) Any vessel, vehicle, or aircraft which is used in the commis-
sion of a violation of subsection (a) shall be subject to seizure and for-
feiture, except when— 
"(A) the owner, master, or other person in charge of such 
vessel, vehicle, or aircraft, was not, at the time of the alleged 
illegal act, a consenting party or privy thereto; or 
"(B) the alleged illegal act occurred while such vessel, vehicle, 
or aircraft was in the illegal possession of any person other (han 
the owner, as established by the criminal laws of the United States, 
or of any States. 
"(2) The Attorney General shall, within one hundred and eighty Regulations, 
days from the date of enactment of this Act, promulgate regulations 
setting forth procedures for the expeditious return to the owner, 
master, or other person in charge of any vessel, vehicle, or aircraft 
seized in violation of paragraph (1). In any such case, the owner, 
master, or other person in charge of such vessel, vehicle, or aircraft 
shall not incur any expenses, including costs of transportation, stor-
age, damage, and attorney fees, associated with such seizure and 
forfeiture. In the case of a vehicle seized and forfeited pursuant to 
paragraph (1) subject to a valid lien or other third-party mterest, the 
regulations shall provide for satisfaction of the third party interest 
without expense to the interestholder. 
"(3) Any conveyance subject to seizure under this section may be 
seized without a warrant if there is probable cause to believe the con-
veyance has been used in violation of subsection (a) and circumstances 
exist where a warrant is not constitutionally required. 
"(4) All provisions of law relating to the seizure, forfeiture, and 
disposition of vessels, vehicles, and aircraft for violations of customs 
law shall apply to violations of the provisions of this chapter: 
Provided, That— 
92 STAT. 2480 
PUBLIC LAW 95-582—NOV. 2, 1978 
" (A) duties imposed on customs officers or other persons regard-
ing the seizure of such conveyances under customs law shall apply 
to seizures carried out under the provisions of this section by such 
officers or persons authorized for that purpose by the Attorney 
General; and 
"(B) proceedings instituted under this subsection respecting 
vessels shall be subject to the Supplemental Rules of Certain 
Admiralty and Maritime Claims.". 
Approved November 2, 1978. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 
HOUSE REPORT No. 95-1447 (Coram, on the Judiciary). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 124 (1978): 
Sept. 18, considered and passed House. 
Oct. 13, considered and passed Senate, amended. 
Oct. 15, House concurred in Senate amendment.