Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 112 Part 1.djvu/667

 PUBLIC LAW 105-199—JULY 16, 1998 112 STAT. 641 Public Law 105-199 105th Congress An Act To establish an advisory commission to provide advice and recommendations on Ti if:IQQQ the creation of an integrated, coordinated Federal policy designed to prepare —JLZ—;: for and respond to serious drought emergencies. IH.R. 3035] Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, National Drought Policy Act of 1998. SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 42 USC 5121 This Act may be cited as the "National Drought Policy Act of 1998". note. SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 42 USC 5121 Congress finds that— (1) the United States often suffers serious economic and environmental losses from severe regional droughts and there is no coordinated Federal strategy to respond to such emergencies; (2) at the Federal level, even though historically there have been frequent, significant droughts of national consequences, drought is addressed mainly through special legislation and ad hoc action rather than through a systematic and permanent process as occurs with other natural disasters; (3) there is an increasing need, particularly at the Federal level, to emphasize preparedness, mitigation, and risk management (rather than simply crisis management) when addressing drought and other natural disasters or emergencies; (4) several Federal agencies have a role in drought from predicting, forecasting, and monitoring of drought conditions to the provision of planning, technical, and financial assistance; (5) there is no single Federal agency in a lead or coordinating role with regard to drought; (6) State, local, and tribal governments have had to deal individually and separately with each Federal agency involved in drought assistance; and (7) the President should appoint an advisory commission to provide advice and recommendations on the creation of an integrated, coordinated Federal policy designed to prepsire for, mitigate the impacts of, respond to, and recover from serious drought emergencies. SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION. 42 USC 5121 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.— There is established a commission to be known as the National Drought Policy Commission (hereafter in this Act referred to as the "Commission"). (b) MEMBERSHIP.—

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