    [United States Statutes at Large, Volume 128, 113th Congress, 2nd Session]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    Public Law 113-86
    113th Congress

    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

    [[Page 1016]]

    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.''.

    Approved March 6, 2014.

    LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 2431:
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    HOUSE REPORTS: No. 113-348 (Comm. on Science, Space, and Technology).
    CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 160 (2014):
    Feb. 10, considered and passed House.
    Feb. 25, considered and passed Senate.
    DAILY COMPILATION OF PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS (2014):
    Mar. 6, Presidential statement.