IB 
Union Calendar No. 258 
113TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 2431 
[Report No. 113–348] 
To reauthorize the National Integrated Drought Information System. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 19, 2013 
Mr. HALL (for himself, Mr. SMITH of Texas, and Mr. BEN RAY LUJA´N of 
New Mexico) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology 
FEBRUARY 6, 2014 
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 June 19, 2013] 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives 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 2013’’. 
SEC. 2. NIDIS PROGRAM AMENDMENTS. 
Section 3 of the National Integrated Drought Informa-
tion System Act of 2006 (15 U.S.C. 313d) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by inserting before the pe-
riod 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 im-
pacts in order to make usable, reliable, and time-
ly forecasts of drought, including assessments of 
the severity of drought conditions and impacts; 
and 
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‘‘(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, re-
gional, State, tribal, and local levels of govern-
ment; 
‘‘(B) the private sector; and 
‘‘(C) the public; 
‘‘(3) provide timely data, information, and prod-
ucts 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 assess-
ment programs and partnerships, including through 
the designation of one or more cooperative institutes 
to assist with National Integrated Drought Informa-
tion System functions; and 
‘‘(6) continue ongoing research and monitoring 
activities related to drought, including research ac-
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tivities 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 
2013, the Under Secretary shall transmit to the Com-
mittee on Science, Space, and Technology of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on Com-
merce, 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 develop-
ment of such program, including future mile-
stones; and 
‘‘(C) an identification of research, moni-
toring, and forecasting needs to enhance the pre-
dictive capability of drought early warnings that 
include— 
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‘‘(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 im-
pacts. 
‘‘(2) CONSULTATION.—In developing the report 
under paragraph (1), the Under Secretary shall con-
sult 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 amend-
ed 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.’’. 
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Union Calendar No. 258 
113TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 2431 
[Report No. 113–348] 
A BILL 
To reauthorize the National Integrated Drought 
Information System. 
FEBRUARY 6, 2014 
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Com-
mittee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, 
and ordered to be printed 
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