[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2431 Placed on Calendar Senate (PCS)]
Calendar No. 307
113th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 2431
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 11, 2014
Received; read twice and placed on the calendar
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
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 2014''.
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, including research activities relating to
length, severity, and impacts of drought and the role of
extreme weather events and climate variability in 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 2014, 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 (15 U.S.C. 313d note) 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.''.
Passed the House of Representatives February 10, 2014.
Attest:
KAREN L. HAAS,
Clerk.
Calendar No. 307
113th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 2431
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To reauthorize the National Integrated Drought Information System.
_______________________________________________________________________
February 11, 2014
Received; read twice and placed on the calendar