[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

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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:
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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.