[109th Congress Public Law 430]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]


[DOCID: f:publ430.109]

[[Page 120 STAT. 2918]]

Public Law 109-430
109th Congress

                                 An Act


 
To establish a National Integrated Drought Information System within the 
   National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to improve drought 
monitoring and forecasting capabilities. <<NOTE: Dec. 20, 2006 -  [H.R. 
                                5136]>> 

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: National 
Integrated Drought Information System Act of 2006.>> 
SECTION 1. <<NOTE: 15 USC 311 note.>> SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``National Integrated Drought 
Information System Act of 2006''.
SEC. 2. <<NOTE: 15 USC 313d note.>> DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Drought.--The term ``drought'' means a deficiency in 
        precipitation--
                    (A) that leads to a deficiency in surface or 
                subsurface water supplies (including rivers, streams, 
                wetlands, ground water, soil moisture, reservoir 
                supplies, lake levels, and snow pack); and
                    (B) that causes or may cause--
                          (i) substantial economic or social impacts; or
                          (ii) substantial physical damage or injury to 
                      individuals, property, or the environment.
            (2) Under secretary.--The term ``Under Secretary'' means the 
        Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere.
SEC. 3. <<NOTE: 15 USC 313d.>> NIDIS PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--The Under Secretary, through the National Weather 
Service and other appropriate weather and climate programs in the 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, shall establish a 
National Integrated Drought Information System.
    (b) System Functions.--The National Integrated Drought Information 
System shall--
            (1) provide an effective drought early warning system that--
                    (A) is a comprehensive system that collects and 
                integrates information on the key indicators of drought 
                in order to make usable, reliable, and timely drought 
                forecasts and assessments of drought, including 
                assessments of the severity of drought conditions and 
                impacts;
                    (B) communicates drought forecasts, drought 
                conditions, and drought impacts on an ongoing basis to--
                          (i) decisionmakers at the Federal, regional, 
                      State, tribal, and local levels of government;
                          (ii) the private sector; and

[[Page 120 STAT. 2919]]

                          (iii) the public,
                in order to engender better informed and more timely 
                decisions thereby leading to reduced impacts and costs; 
                and
                    (C) includes timely (where possible real-time) data, 
                information, and products that reflect local, regional, 
                and State differences in drought conditions;
            (2) coordinate, and integrate as practicable, Federal 
        research in support of a drought early warning system; and
            (3) build upon existing forecasting and assessment programs 
        and partnerships.

    (c) Consultation.--The Under Secretary shall consult with relevant 
Federal, regional, State, tribal, and local government agencies, 
research institutions, and the private sector in the development of the 
National Integrated Drought Information System.
    (d) Cooperation From Other Federal Agencies.--Each Federal agency 
shall cooperate as appropriate with the Under Secretary in carrying out 
this Act.
SEC. 4. <<NOTE: 15 USC 313d note.>> AUTHORIZATION OF 
                    APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act--
            (1) $11,000,000 for fiscal year 2007;
            (2) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;
            (3) $13,000,000 for fiscal year 2009;
            (4) $14,000,000 for fiscal year 2010;
            (5) $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2011; and
            (6) $16,000,000 for fiscal year 2012.

    Approved December 20, 2006.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 5136 (S. 2751):
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

HOUSE REPORTS: No. 109-503 (Comm. on Science).
SENATE REPORTS: No. 109-356 accompanying S. 2751 (Comm. on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 152 (2006):
            Sept. 26, considered and passed House.
            Dec. 6, considered and passed Senate.

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