I 

109TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 5136 

To establish a National Integrated Drought Information System within the 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to improve drought 

monitoring and forecasting capabilities. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 6, 2006 

Mr. HALL (for himself and Mr. UDALL of Colorado) introduced the following 

bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science 

A BILL 

To establish a National Integrated Drought Information System within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to improve drought monitoring and forecasting capabilities. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘National Integrated 

5 Drought Information System Act of 2006’’. 

6 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

7 In this Act: 


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1 (1) DROUGHT.—The term ‘‘drought’’ means a 

2 deficiency in precipitation— 

3 (A) that leads to a deficiency in surface or 

4 subsurface water supplies (including rivers, 

5 streams, wetlands, ground water, soil moisture, 

6 reservoir supplies, lake levels, and snow pack); 

7 and 

8 (B) that causes or may cause— 

9 (i) substantial economic or social im10 pacts; or 

11 (ii) substantial physical damage or in12 jury to individuals, property, or the envi13 ronment. 

14 (2) UNDER SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Under 

15 Secretary’’ means the Under Secretary of Commerce 

16 for Oceans and Atmosphere. 

17 SEC. 4. NIDIS PROGRAM. 

18 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Under Secretary, through the 

19 National Weather Service and other appropriate weather 

20 and climate programs in the National Oceanic and Atmos21 pheric Administration, shall establish a National Inte22 grated Drought Information System. 

23 (b) SYSTEM FUNCTIONS.—The National Integrated 

24 Drought Information System shall— 


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1 (1) provide an effective drought early warning 

2 system that— 

3 (A) is a comprehensive system that collects 

4 and integrates information on the key indica5 tors of drought in order to make usable, reli6 able, and timely assessments of drought, includ7 ing assessments of the severity of drought and 

8 drought forecasts. 

9 (B) communicates drought forecasts, 

10 drought conditions, and drought impacts on an 

11 ongoing basis to— 

12 (i) decisionmakers at the Federal, re13 gional, State, tribal, and local levels of gov14 ernment; 

15 (ii) the private sector; and 

16 (iii) the public, 

17 in order to engender better informed and more 

18 timely decisions thereby leading to reduced im19 pacts and costs; and 

20 (C) includes timely (where possible real21 time) data, information, and products that re22 flect local, regional, and State differences in 

23 drought conditions; and 


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1 (2) coordinate, and integrate as practicable, 

2 Federal research in support of a drought early warn3 ing system. 

4 (c) CONSULTATION.—The Under Secretary shall con5 sult with relevant Federal, regional, State, tribal, and local 

6 government agencies, research institutions, and the pri7 vate sector in the development of the National Integrated 

8 Drought Information System. 

9 (d) COOPERATION FROM OTHER FEDERAL AGEN10 CIES.—Each Federal agency shall cooperate as appro11 priate with the Under Secretary in carrying out this Act. 

12 SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

13 There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out 

14 this Act— 

15 (1) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2007; 

16 (2) $14,000,000 for fiscal year 2008; 

17 (3) $16,000,000 for fiscal year 2009; 

18 (4) $16,000,000 for fiscal year 2010; 

19 (5) $18,000,000 for fiscal year 2011; and 

20 (6) $18,000,000 for fiscal year 2012. 

Æ 


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