[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2751 Reported in Senate (RS)]
Calendar No. 653
109th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 2751
[Report No. 109-356]
To strengthen the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's
drought monitoring and forecasting capabilities.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 4, 2006
Mr. Nelson of Nebraska (for himself and Mr. Domenici) introduced the
following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation
September 29, 2006
Reported by Mr. Stevens, without amendment
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To strengthen the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's
drought monitoring and forecasting capabilities.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 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. NOAA PROGRAM TO MONITOR AND FORECAST DROUGHTS.
(a) In General.--The Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and
Atmosphere shall establish a National Integrated Drought Information
System within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
(b) System Functions.--The 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,
regional, State, tribal, and local levels of
government;
(ii) the private sector; and
(iii) the public,
in order to facilitate better informed, more timely
decisions and support drought mitigation and
preparedness programs that will reduce impacts and
costs; and
(C) includes timely (where possible real-time)
data, information, and products that reflect local,
regional, and State differences in drought conditions;
(2) coordinate, and integrate as practicable, Federal
research in support of a drought early warning system, improved
forecasts, and the development of mitigation and preparedness
tools and techniques;
(3) build upon existing drought forecasting, assessment,
and mitigation programs at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, including programs conducted in partnership
with other Federal departments and agencies and existing
research partnerships, such as that with the National Drought
Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln; and
(4) be incorporated into the Global Earth Observation
System of Systems.
(c) Consultation.--The Under Secretary shall consult 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 Agencies.--Each Federal agency
shall cooperate as appropriate with the Under Secretary in carrying out
this Act.
(e) Drought Defined.--In this section, the term ``drought'' means a
deficiency in precipitation--
(1) 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
(2) that causes or may cause--
(A) substantial economic or social impacts; or
(B) substantial physical damage or injury to
individuals, property, or the environment.
SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of
Commerce for use by the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and
Atmosphere in implementing section 2--
(1) $8,000,000 for fiscal year 2007;
(2) $9,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;
(3) $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2009 and 2010; and
(4) $11,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2011 and 2012.
Calendar No. 653
109th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 2751
[Report No. 109-356]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To strengthen the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's
drought monitoring and forecasting capabilities.
_______________________________________________________________________
September 29, 2006
Reported without amendment