SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘National Integrated 
Drought Information System Reauthorization Act of 
2014’’. 
SEC. 2. NIDIS PROGRAM AMENDMENTS. 
Section 3 of the National Integrated Drought Infor-
mation System Act of 2006 (15 U.S.C. 313d) is amend-
ed— 
(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 
timely forecasts of drought, including assess-
ments of the severity of drought conditions and 
impacts; and
‘‘(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 
products that reflect local, regional, and State dif-
ferences 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-
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 Inte-
grated Drought Information System Reauthorization 
Act of 2014, the Under Secretary shall transmit to 
the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Sen-
ate a report that contains— 
‘‘(A) an analysis of the implementation of 
the National Integrated Drought Information 
System program, including how the informa-
tion, 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 
predictive capability of drought early warnings 
that include—
‘‘(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 
amended 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.’’. 
Passed the House of Representatives February 10, 
2014. 
Attest: 
Clerk.