II 115th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 2200 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES December 6, 2017 Mr. Thune (for himself and Mr. Nelson ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation A BILL To reauthorize the National Integrated Drought Information System, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the National Integrated Drought Information System Reauthorization Act of 2018 . 2. National Integrated Drought Information System program (a) In general Section 3 of the National Integrated Drought Information System Act of 2006 ( 15 U.S.C. 313d ) is amended— (1) in subsection (b)— (A) in paragraph (1)(A), by striking in order to make usable, reliable, and timely forecasts of drought, including and inserting including, precipitation, soil moisture, and evaporative demand, in order to make usable, reliable, and timely forecasts of drought and ; (B) in paragraph (3), by inserting watershed, after regional, ; (C) in paragraph (4)— (i) by inserting , through interagency agreements after integrate ; and (ii) by inserting information after warning ; (D) by amending paragraph (5) to read as follows: (5) utilize existing forecasting and assessment programs and partnerships, including forecast communication coordinators and cooperative institutes, and improvements in seasonal, subseasonal, and low flow water prediction; and ; and (E) in paragraph (6), by inserting the prediction, after relating to ; (2) by redesignating subsections (c) through (e) as subsections (d) through (f), respectively; (3) by inserting after subsection (b) the following: (c) Partnerships The National Integrated Drought Information System may— (1) engage with the private sector to improve drought forecast and communication if the Under Secretary determines the partnership is appropriate, cost-effective, and beneficial to the public and decisionmakers described in subsection (b)(2)(A); and (2) facilitate the development of one or more academic cooperative partnerships to assist with National Integrated Drought Information System functions. ; (4) in subsection (d), as redesignated, by inserting and sustainment after development ; and (5) by striking subsection (f), as redesignated, and inserting the following: (f) Soil moisture Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the National Integrated Drought Information System Reauthorization Act of 2018 , the Under Secretary, acting through the National Integrated Drought Information System, shall develop a strategy for a national coordinated soil moisture monitoring network. . (b) Authorization of appropriations Section 4 of the National Integrated Drought Information System Act of 2006 ( 15 U.S.C. 313d note) is amended to read as follows: 4. Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act— (1) $13,500,000 for fiscal year 2018; (2) $14,500,000 for fiscal year 2019; (3) $15,500,000 for fiscal year 2020; (4) $16,500,000 for fiscal year 2021; (5) $17,500,000 for fiscal year 2022; and (6) $18,500,000 for fiscal year 2023. . 3. Reauthorization of weather and climate information in agriculture Section 1762(j) of the Food Security Act of 1985 ( 15 U.S.C. 8521(j) ) is amended to read as follows: (j) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out the activities under this section— (1) $26,500,000 for fiscal year 2018; (2) $27,500,000 for fiscal year 2019; (3) $28,500,000 for fiscal year 2020; (4) $29,500,000 for fiscal year 2021; (5) $30,500,000 for fiscal year 2022; and (6) $31,500,000 for fiscal year 2023. .