[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6489 Introduced in House (IH)]

112th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 6489

   To reauthorize the National Integrated Drought Information System.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 21, 2012

  Mr. Hall (for himself and Mr. Boren) introduced the following bill; 
 which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To reauthorize the National Integrated Drought Information System.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``National Integrated Drought 
Information System Reauthorization Act of 2012''.

SEC. 2. NIDIS PROGRAM AMENDMENTS.

    Section 3 of the National Integrated Drought Information System Act 
of 2006 (15 U.S.C. 313d) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a) by inserting before the period at the 
        end the following: ``to better inform and provide for more 
        timely decisionmaking to reduce drought related impacts and 
        costs'';
            (2) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following:
    ``(b) System Functions.--The National Integrated Drought 
Information System shall--
            ``(1) provide an effective drought early warning system 
        that--
                    ``(A) collects and integrates information on the 
                key indicators of drought in order to make usable, 
                reliable, and timely forecasts of drought, including 
                assessments of the severity of drought conditions and 
                impacts; and
                    ``(B) provides such information, forecasts, and 
                assessments on both national and regional levels;
            ``(2) communicate drought forecasts, drought conditions, 
        and drought impacts on an ongoing basis to--
                    ``(A) decisionmakers at the Federal, regional, 
                State, tribal, and local levels of government;
                    ``(B) the private sector; and
                    ``(C) the public;
            ``(3) provide timely data, information, and products that 
        reflect local, regional, and State differences in drought 
        conditions;
            ``(4) coordinate, and integrate as practicable, Federal 
        research in support of a drought early warning system;
            ``(5) build upon existing forecasting and assessment 
        programs and partnerships; and
            ``(6) continue ongoing research activities related to 
        drought.''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(e) Report.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not later than 18 months after the date 
        of enactment of the National Integrated Drought Information 
        System Reauthorization Act of 2012, the Under Secretary shall 
        transmit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of 
        the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
        Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report that 
        contains--
                    ``(A) an analysis of the implementation of the 
                National Integrated Drought Information System program, 
                including how the information, forecasts, and 
                assessments are utilized in drought policy planning and 
                response activities;
                    ``(B) specific plans for continued development of 
                such program, including future milestones; and
                    ``(C) an identification of research, monitoring, 
                and forecasting needs to enhance the predictive 
                capability of--
                            ``(i) drought early warnings;
                            ``(ii) the length and severity of droughts; 
                        and
                            ``(iii) the contribution of weather events 
                        to reducing the severity or ending drought 
                        conditions.
            ``(2) Consultation.--In developing the report under 
        paragraph (1), the Under Secretary shall consult with relevant 
        Federal, regional, State, tribal, and local government 
        agencies, research institutions, and the private sector.''.

SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    Section 4 of such Act is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    ``There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act 
$13,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2013 through 2017.''.
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