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•HR 2419 EH1S 
(f) COUNCIL PERSONNEL MATTERS.— 
(1) COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS.— 
(A) NON-FEDERAL EMPLOYEES.—A mem-
ber of the Council who is not an officer or em-
ployee of the Federal Government shall serve 
without compensation. 
(B) FEDERAL EMPLOYEES.—A member of 
the Council who is an officer or employee of the 
United States shall serve without compensation 
in addition to the compensation received for 
services of the member as an officer or em-
ployee of the Federal Government. 
(2) TRAVEL
EXPENSES.—A member of the 
Council shall be allowed travel expenses at rates au-
thorized for an employee of an agency under sub-
chapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States 
Code, while away from the home or regular place of 
business of the member in the performance of the 
duties of the Council. 
(g) TERMINATION OF COUNCIL.—The Council shall 
terminate at the end of the eighth fiscal year beginning 
on or after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
(h) NATIONAL OFFICE
OF DROUGHT PREPARED-
NESS.—
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•HR 2419 EH1S 
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall es-
tablish an office to be known as the ‘‘National Office 
of Drought Preparedness’’ to provide assistance to 
the Council. 
(2) DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE.— 
(A) APPOINTMENT.— 
(i) IN
GENERAL.—The Under Sec-
retary shall appoint a Director of the Of-
fice under sections 3371 through 3375 of 
title 5, United States Code. 
(ii) QUALIFICATIONS.—The Director 
of the Office shall be a person who has ex-
perience in— 
(I) public administration; and 
(II) 
drought 
mitigation 
or 
drought management. 
(B) POWERS.—The Director of the Office 
may hire such other additional personnel or 
contract for services with other entities as nec-
essary to carry out the duties of the Office. 
(3) DETAIL OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Except for the require-
ments of section 204, an employee of the Fed-
eral Government may be detailed to the Office 
without reimbursement, unless the Secretary,
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•HR 2419 EH1S 
on the recommendation of the Director of the 
Office, determines that reimbursement is appro-
priate. 
(B) CIVIL SERVICE STATUS.—The detail of 
an employee shall be without interruption or 
loss of civil service status or privilege. 
(i) DROUGHT ASSISTANCE FUND.— 
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established 
within the Department of Agriculture a fund to be 
known as the ‘‘Drought Assistance Fund’’. 
(2) PURPOSE.—The Fund shall be used to pay 
the costs of— 
(A) providing technical and financial as-
sistance (including grants and cooperative as-
sistance) to States, Indian tribes, local govern-
ments, watershed groups, and critical service 
providers for the development and implementa-
tion of drought preparedness plans; 
(B) providing to States, Indian tribes, local 
governments, watershed groups, and critical 
service providers the Federal share, as deter-
mined by the Secretary, in consultation with the 
other members of the Council, of the cost of 
mitigating the overall risk and impacts of 
droughts;
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•HR 2419 EH1S 
(C) assisting States, Indian tribes, local 
governments, watershed groups, and critical 
service providers in the development of mitiga-
tion measures to address environmental, eco-
nomic, and human health and safety issues re-
lating to drought; and 
(D) expanding the technology transfer of 
drought and water conservation strategies and 
innovative water supply techniques. 
(3) GUIDELINES.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in con-
sultation with the non-Federal co-chair of the 
Council and with the concurrence of the Coun-
cil, shall develop and promulgate guidelines to 
implement this subsection. 
(B) REQUIREMENTS.—The guidelines shall 
address the following: 
(i) Ensure the distribution of amounts 
from the Fund within a reasonable period 
of time. 
(ii) Take into consideration regional 
differences. 
(iii) Take into consideration all im-
pacts of drought in a balanced manner.
764 
•HR 2419 EH1S 
(iv) Prohibit the use of amounts from 
the Fund for Federal salaries that are not 
directly related to the provision of drought 
assistance. 
(v) 
Require 
that 
distribution 
of 
amounts from the Fund granted to States, 
local governments, watershed groups, and 
critical service providers to meet the re-
quirements of this subsection be coordi-
nated with and managed by the State in 
which such local government or critical 
service provider is located, consistent with 
the drought preparedness priorities and 
relevant water management plans within 
the State. 
(vi) Require that distribution of 
amounts from the Fund granted to Indian 
tribes to meet the requirements of this 
subsection be used to implement plans that 
are, to the extent practicable, in coordina-
tion with each State in which lands of the 
Indian tribe are located and consistent 
with existing drought preparedness and 
water management plans of such States.