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 Sys-
tem within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Ad-
ministration to improve drought monitoring and fore-
casting capabilities. 
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: 
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(1) DROUGHT.—The term ‘‘drought’’ means a 
deficiency 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 
Secretary’’ means the Under Secretary of Commerce 
for Oceans and Atmosphere. 
SEC. 4. 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— 
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(1) provide an effective drought early warning 
system that— 
(A) is a comprehensive system that collects 
and integrates information on the key indica-
tors of drought in order to make usable, reli-
able, and timely assessments of drought, includ-
ing assessments of the severity of drought and 
drought forecasts. 
(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, 
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; and 
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(2) coordinate, and integrate as practicable, 
Federal research in support of a drought early warn-
ing system. 
(c) CONSULTATION.—The Under Secretary shall con-
sult with relevant Federal, regional, State, tribal, and local 
government agencies, research institutions, and the pri-
vate sector in the development of the National Integrated 
Drought Information System. 
(d) COOPERATION FROM OTHER FEDERAL AGEN-
CIES.—Each Federal agency shall cooperate as appro-
priate with the Under Secretary in carrying out this Act. 
SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
this Act— 
(1) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2007; 
(2) $14,000,000 for fiscal year 2008; 
(3) $16,000,000 for fiscal year 2009; 
(4) $16,000,000 for fiscal year 2010; 
(5) $18,000,000 for fiscal year 2011; and 
(6) $18,000,000 for fiscal year 2012. 
Æ 
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