[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2431 Introduced in House (IH)]

113th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2431

   To reauthorize the National Integrated Drought Information System.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 19, 2013

Mr. Hall (for himself, Mr. Smith of Texas, and Mr. Ben Ray Lujan of New 
   Mexico) 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 2013''.

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 and drought impacts 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 public and private 
        entities engaged in drought planning and preparedness, 
        including--
                    ``(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 and monitoring in support of a drought early warning 
        system;
            ``(5) build upon existing forecasting and assessment 
        programs and partnerships, including through the designation of 
        one or more cooperative institutes to assist with National 
        Integrated Drought Information System functions; and
            ``(6) continue ongoing research and monitoring 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 2013, 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 drought early warnings that include--
                            ``(i) the length and severity of droughts;
                            ``(ii) the contribution of weather events 
                        to reducing the severity or ending drought 
                        conditions; and
                            ``(iii) regionally specific drought 
                        impacts.
            ``(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 2014 through 2018.''.
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