IB 

Union Calendar No. 280 

109TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 5136 

[Report No. 109–503] 

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 

JUNE 15, 2006 

Additional sponsors: Mr. BOEHLERT, Mr. BURGESS, Mr. BOREN, Mr. 

CONAWAY, Mr. HINOJOSA, Mr. EDWARDS, Mr. LUCAS, Mr. SALAZAR, and 

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia 

JUNE 15, 2006 

Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole 

House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed 

[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 

[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on April 6, 2006] 

A BILL 

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


sroberts on PROD1PC70 with BILLS
2 

•HR 5136 RH 

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: 

8 (1) DROUGHT.—The term ‘‘drought’’ means a de9 ficiency in precipitation— 

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

11 subsurface water supplies (including rivers, 

12 streams, wetlands, ground water, soil moisture, 

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

14 and 

15 (B) that causes or may cause— 

16 (i) substantial economic or social im17 pacts; or 

18 (ii) substantial physical damage or in19 jury to individuals, property, or the envi20 ronment. 

21 (2) UNDER SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Under Sec22 retary’’ means the Under Secretary of Commerce for 

23 Oceans and Atmosphere. 


sroberts on PROD1PC70 with BILLS
3 

•HR 5136 RH 

1 SEC. 3. NIDIS PROGRAM. 

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

3 National Weather Service and other appropriate weather 

4 and climate programs in the National Oceanic and Atmos5 pheric Administration, shall establish a National Inte6 grated Drought Information System. 

7 (b) SYSTEM FUNCTIONS.—The National Integrated 

8 Drought Information System shall— 

9 (1) provide an effective drought early warning 

10 system that— 

11 (A) is a comprehensive system that collects 

12 and integrates information on the key indicators 

13 of drought in order to make usable, reliable, and 

14 timely drought forecasts and assessments of 

15 drought, including assessments of the severity of 

16 drought conditions and impacts; 

17 (B) communicates drought forecasts, 

18 drought conditions, and drought impacts on an 

19 ongoing basis to— 

20 (i) decisionmakers at the Federal, re21 gional, State, tribal, and local levels of gov22 ernment; 

23 (ii) the private sector; and 

24 (iii) the public, 


sroberts on PROD1PC70 with BILLS
4 

•HR 5136 RH 

1 in order to engender better informed and more 

2 timely decisions thereby leading to reduced im3 pacts and costs; and 

4 (C) includes timely (where possible real5 time) data, information, and products that re6 flect local, regional, and State differences in 

7 drought conditions; 

8 (2) coordinate, and integrate as practicable, Fed9 eral research in support of a drought early warning 

10 system; and 

11 (3) build upon existing forecasting and assess12 ment programs and partnerships. 

13 (c) CONSULTATION.—The Under Secretary shall con14 sult with relevant Federal, regional, State, tribal, and local 

15 government agencies, research institutions, and the private 

16 sector in the development of the National Integrated 

17 Drought Information System. 

18 (d) COOPERATION FROM OTHER FEDERAL AGEN19 CIES.—Each Federal agency shall cooperate as appropriate 

20 with the Under Secretary in carrying out this Act. 

21 SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

22 There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out 

23 this Act— 

24 (1) $11,000,000 for fiscal year 2007; 

25 (2) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2008; 


sroberts on PROD1PC70 with BILLS
5 

•HR 5136 RH 

1 (3) $13,000,000 for fiscal year 2009; 

2 (4) $14,000,000 for fiscal year 2010; 

3 (5) $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2011; and 

4 (6) $16,000,000 for fiscal year 2012. 


sroberts on PROD1PC70 with BILLS
Union Calendar No. 280 

109TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 5136 

[Report No. 109

–503] 

A BILL 

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

JUNE 15, 2006 

Reported with an amendment, committed to the Comand ordered to be printed mittee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, 


sroberts on PROD1PC70 with BILLS