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 Sys-
tem within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Ad-
ministration to improve drought monitoring and fore-
casting capabilities. 
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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 Act of 2006’’. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) DROUGHT.—The term ‘‘drought’’ means a de-
ficiency in precipitation— 
(A) that leads to a deficiency in surface or 
subsurface water supplies (including rivers, 
streams, wetlands, ground water, soil moisture, 
reservoir supplies, lake levels, and snow pack); 
and 
(B) that causes or may cause— 
(i) substantial economic or social im-
pacts; or 
(ii) substantial physical damage or in-
jury to individuals, property, or the envi-
ronment. 
(2) UNDER SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Under Sec-
retary’’ means the Under Secretary of Commerce for 
Oceans and Atmosphere. 
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SEC. 3. NIDIS PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Under Secretary, through the 
National Weather Service and other appropriate weather 
and climate programs in the National Oceanic and Atmos-
pheric Administration, shall establish a National Inte-
grated Drought Information System. 
(b) SYSTEM FUNCTIONS.—The National Integrated 
Drought Information System shall— 
(1) provide an effective drought early warning 
system that— 
(A) is a comprehensive system that collects 
and integrates information on the key indicators 
of drought in order to make usable, reliable, and 
timely drought forecasts and assessments of 
drought, including assessments of the severity of 
drought conditions and impacts; 
(B) 
communicates 
drought 
forecasts, 
drought conditions, and drought impacts on an 
ongoing basis to— 
(i) decisionmakers at the Federal, re-
gional, State, tribal, and local levels of gov-
ernment; 
(ii) the private sector; and 
(iii) the public, 
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in order to engender better informed and more 
timely decisions thereby leading to reduced im-
pacts and costs; and 
(C) includes timely (where possible real- 
time) data, information, and products that re-
flect local, regional, and State differences in 
drought conditions; 
(2) coordinate, and integrate as practicable, Fed-
eral research in support of a drought early warning 
system; and 
(3) build upon existing forecasting and assess-
ment programs and partnerships. 
(c) CONSULTATION.—The Under Secretary shall con-
sult with relevant Federal, regional, State, tribal, and local 
government agencies, research institutions, and the private 
sector in the development of the National Integrated 
Drought Information System. 
(d) COOPERATION FROM OTHER FEDERAL AGEN-
CIES.—Each Federal agency shall cooperate as appropriate 
with the Under Secretary in carrying out this Act. 
SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
this Act— 
(1) $11,000,000 for fiscal year 2007; 
(2) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2008; 
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(3) $13,000,000 for fiscal year 2009; 
(4) $14,000,000 for fiscal year 2010; 
(5) $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2011; and 
(6) $16,000,000 for fiscal year 2012. 
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Union Calendar No. 280 
109TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5136 
[Report No. 109–503] 
A BILL 
To establish a National Integrated Drought Infor-
mation System within the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration to improve drought 
monitoring and forecasting capabilities. 
JUNE 15, 2006 
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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22:32 Jun 15, 2006
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