,,ii ,calendar ,no4 #cdd #aacth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #baih ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,april #a1 #bjad,mrs4 ,feinstein 7for herself1 ,mrs4 ,boxer1 ,mr4 ,wyden1 ,mr4 ,merkley1 ,mr4 ,reid1 ,mr4 ,heller1 ,mr4 ,rockefeller1 ,mr4 ,durbin1 ,ms4 ,stabenow1 and ,mr4 ,casey7 introduced the following bill2 which was read the first time ,april #b1 #bjad,read the second time and placed on the calendar ,a ,,bill ,to direct the ,secretary of the ,interior1 the ,secretary of ,commerce1 and the ,administrator of the ,environmental ,protection ,agency to take actions to provide additional water supplies and disaster assistance to the ,state of ,california and other ,western ,states due to drought1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,emergency ,drought ,relief ,act of #bjad4 #b4 ,table of contents ,the table of contents of this ,act are as follows3 ,sec4 #a4 ,short title4 ,sec4 #b4 ,table of contents4 ,,title ,i--,emergency drought relief ,sec4 #aja4 ,findings4 ,sec4 #ajb4 ,definitions4 ,sec4 #ajc4 ,emergency projects4 ,sec4 #ajd4 ,emergency funding4 ,sec4 #aje4 ,emergency environmental reviews4 ,sec4 #ajf4 ,state revolving funds4 ,sec4 #ajg4 ,drought planning assistance4 ,sec4 #ajh4 ,calfed ,bay-,delta ,act reauthorization4 ,sec4 #aji4 ,reclamation ,states ,emergency ,drought ,relief ,act reauthorization4 ,sec4 #aaj4 ,secure ,water ,act reauthorization4 ,sec4 #aaa4 ,colorado ,river ,basin ,system water4 ,sec4 #aab4 ,effect on ,state laws4 ,sec4 #aac4 ,klamath ,basin water supply4 ,sec4 #aad4 ,termination of authorities4 ,,title ,,ii--,federal disaster assistance ,sec4 #bja4 ,treatment of drought under the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act4 ,i ,emergency drought relief #aja4 ,findings ,congress finds that-- 7#a7 as established in the ,proclamation of a ,state of ,emergency issued by the ,governor of the ,state on ,january #ag1 #bjad1 the ,state is experiencing record dry conditions2 7#b7 extremely dry conditions have persisted in the ,state since #bjab1 and the current drought conditions are likely to persist into the future2 7#c7 the water supplies of the ,state are at record-low levels1 as indicated by a statewide average snowpack of #ab percent of the normal average for winter as of ,february #a1 #bjad1 and the fact that all major ,central ,valley ,project reservoir levels are below #ej percent of the capacity of the reservoirs as of the date of enactment of this ,act2 7#d7 the #bjac-bjad drought constitutes a serious emergency posing immediate and severe risks to human life and safety and to the environment throughout the ,state2 7#e7 the emergency requires-- 7,a7 immediate and credible action that respects the complexity of the ,state of ,california's water system and its importance to the entire ,state2 and 7,b7 policies that do not pit stakeholders against one another1 which history has shown only leads to costly litigation that benefits no one and prevents any real solutions2 7#f7 ,federal law 7including regulations7 directly authorizes expedited decisionmaking procedures and environmental and public review procedures to enable timely and appropriate implementation of actions to respond to such a type and severity of emergency2 and 7#g7 the serious emergency posed by the #bjac-bjad drought in the ,state fully satisfies the conditions necessary for the exercise of emergency decision making1 analytical1 and public review requirements under-- 7,a7 the ,endangered ,species ,act of #aigc 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #aeca et seq472 7,b7 the ,national ,environmental ,policy ,act of #aifi 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #dcba et seq472 7,c7 water control management procedures of the ,corps of ,engineers described in section #bbb4e of title #cc1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7including successor regulations72 and 7,d7 the ,reclamation ,states ,emergency ,drought ,relief ,act of #aiia 7,public ,law #ajb-bej2 #ajf ,stat4 #ec74 #ajb4 ,definitions ,in this title3 7#a7 ,central valley project ,the term ,central ,valley ,project has the meaning given the term in section #cdjc of the ,central ,valley ,project ,improvement ,act 7#ajf ,stat4 #dgjg74 7#b7 ,klamath ,project ,the term ,klamath ,project means the ,bureau of ,reclamation project in the ,states of ,california and ,oregon-- 7,a7 as authorized under the ,act of ,june #ag1 #aijb 7#cb ,stat4 #chh1 chapter #ajic72 and 7,b7 as described in-- 7i7 title ,,ii of the ,oregon ,resource ,conservation ,act of #aiif 7,public ,law #ajd-bjh2 #aaj ,stat4 #cjji-ecb72 and 7ii7 the ,klamath ,basin ,water ,supply ,enhancement ,act of #bjjj 7,public ,law #ajf-dih2 #aad ,stat4 #bbba74 7#c7 ,reclamation project ,the term ,reclamation ,project means a project constructed pursuant to the authorities of the reclamation laws and whose facilities are wholly or partially located in the ,state4 7#d7 ,secretaries ,the term ,secretaries means-- 7,a7 the ,administrator of the ,environmental ,protection ,agency2 7,b7 the ,secretary of ,commerce2 and 7,c7 the ,secretary of the ,interior4 7#e7 ,state ,the term ,state means the ,state of ,california4 7#f7 ,state water project ,the term ,state ,water ,project means the water project described by ,california ,water ,code section #aaeej et seq41 and operated by the ,california ,department of ,water ,resources4 #ajc4 ,emergency projects 7a7 ,in general ,in response to the declaration of a state of drought emergency by the ,governor of the ,state1 the ,secretaries shall provide the maximum quantity of water supplies possible to ,central ,valley ,project and ,klamath ,project agricultural1 municipal and industrial1 and refuge service and repayment contractors1 ,state ,water ,project contractors1 and any other locality or municipality in the ,state1 by approving1 consistent with applicable laws 7including regulations7-- 7#a7 any project or operations to provide additional water supplies if there is any possible way whatsoever that the ,secretaries can do so unless the project or operations constitute a highly inefficient way of providing additional water supplies2 and 7#b7 any projects or operations as quickly as possible based on available information to address the emergency conditions4 7b7 ,mandate ,in carrying out subsection 7a71 the applicable agency heads described in that subsection shall1 consistent with applicable laws 7including regulations7-- 7#a7 authorize and implement actions to ensure that the ,delta ,cross ,channel ,gates shall remain open to the greatest extent possible1 timed to maximize the peak flood tide period and provide water supply and water quality benefits for the duration of the ,state's drought emergency declaration1 consistent with operational criteria and monitoring criteria developed pursuant to the ,california ,state ,water ,resources ,control ,board's ,order ,approving a ,temporary ,urgency ,change in ,license and ,permit ,terms in ,response to ,drought ,conditions1 effective ,january #ca1 #bjad1 or a successor order2 7#b7 7,a7 collect data associated with the operation of the ,delta ,cross ,channel ,gates described in paragraph 7#a7 and its impact on species listed as threatened or endangered under the ,endangered ,species ,act of #aigc 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #aeca et seq471 water quality1 and water supply2 and 7,b7 after assessing the data described in subparagraph 7,a71 require the ,director of the ,national ,marine ,fisheries ,service to recommend revisions to operations of the ,central ,valley ,project and the ,california ,state ,water ,project1 including1 if appropriate1 the reasonable and prudent alternatives contained in the biological opinion issued by the ,national ,marine ,fisheries ,service on ,june #d1 #bjji1 that are likely to produce fishery1 water quality1 and water supply benefits2 7#c7 7,a7 implement turbidity control strategies that allow for increased water deliveries while avoiding jeopardy to adult delta smelt 7,hypomesus transpacificus7 due to entrainment at ,central ,valley ,project and ,state ,water ,project pumping plants2 and 7,b7 manage reverse flow in ,old and ,middle ,rivers as prescribed by the biological opinion issued by the ,united ,states ,fish and ,wildlife ,service and dated ,december #ae1 #bjjh1 to minimize water supply reductions for the ,central ,valley ,project and the ,state ,water ,project2 7#d7 adopt a #a3a inflow to export ratio for the increased flow of the ,san ,joaquin ,river1 as measured as a #c-;day running average at ,vernalis during the period from ,april #a through ,may #ca1 resulting from voluntary transfers and exchanges of water supplies1 among other purposes2 7#e7 issue all necessary permit decisions under the authority of the ,secretaries within #cj days of receiving a completed application by the ,state to place and use temporary barriers or operable gates in ,delta channels to improve water quantity and quality for ,state ,water ,project and ,central ,valley ,project ,south of ,delta water contractors and other water users1 which barriers or gates should provide benefits for species protection and in-,delta water user water quality and shall be designed such that formal consultations under section #g of the ,endangered ,species ,act of #aigc 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #aecf7 would not be necessary2 7#f7 7,a7 require the ,director of the ,united ,states ,fish and ,wildlife ,service and the ,commissioner of the ,bureau of ,reclamation to complete all requirements under the ,national ,environmental ,policy ,act of #aifi 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #dcba et seq47 and the ,endangered ,species ,act of #aigc 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #aeca et seq47 necessary to make final permit decisions on water transfer requests associated with voluntarily fallowing nonpermanent crops in the ,state1 within #cj days of receiving such a request2 and 7,b7 require the ,director of the ,united ,states ,fish and ,wildlife ,service to allow any water transfer request associated with fallowing to maximize the quantity of water supplies available for nonhabitat uses as long as the fallowing and associated water transfer are in compliance with applicable ,federal laws 7including regulations72 7#g7 allow ,north of ,delta water service contractors with unused #bjac ,central ,valley ,project contract supplies to take delivery of those unused supplies through ,april #ae1 #bjad1 if-- 7,a7 the contractor requests the extension2 and 7,b7 the requesting contractor certifies that1 without the extension1 the contractor would have insufficient supplies to adequately meet water delivery obligations2 7#h7 maintain all rescheduled water supplies held in the ,san ,luis ,reservoir and ,millerton ,reservoir for all water users for delivery in the immediately following contract water year unless precluded by reservoir storage capacity limitations2 7#i7 to the maximum extent possible based on the availability of water and without causing land subsidence-- 7,a7 meet the contract water supply needs of ,central ,valley ,project refuges through the improvement or installation of wells to use groundwater resources and the purchase of water from willing sellers1 which activities may be accomplished by using funding made available under section #ajd or the ,water ,assistance ,program or the ,water,s,m,a,r,t program of the ,department of the ,interior2 and 7,b7 make a quantity of ,central ,valley ,project surface water obtained from the measures implemented under subparagraph 7,a7 available to ,central ,valley ,project contractors2 7#aj7 make any ,water,s,m,a,r,t grant funding allocated to the ,state available on a priority and expedited basis for projects in the ,state that-- 7,a7 provide emergency drinking and municipal water supplies to localities in a quantity necessary to meet minimum public health and safety needs2 7,b7 prevent the loss of permanent crops2 7,c7 minimize economic losses resulting from drought conditions2 or 7,d7 provide innovative water conservation tools and technology for agriculture and urban water use that can have immediate water supply benefits2 7#aa7 implement offsite upstream projects in the ,delta and upstream ,sacramento ,river and ,san ,joaquin basins1 in coordination with the ,california ,department of ,water ,resources and the ,california ,department of ,fish and ,wildlife1 that offset the effects on species listed as threatened or endangered under the ,endangered ,species ,act of #aigc 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #aeca et seq47 due to actions taken under this ,act2 and 7#ab7 use all available scientific tools to identify and implement any changes to real-time operations of ,bureau of ,reclamation1 ,state1 and local water projects that could result in the availability of additional water supplies4 7c7 ,other agencies ,to the extent that a ,federal agency other than agencies headed by the ,secretaries has a role in approving projects described in subsections 7a7 and 7b71 the provisions of this section shall apply to those ,federal agencies4 7d7 ,accelerated project decision and elevation 7#a7 ,in general ,upon the request of the ,state1 the heads of ,federal agencies shall use the expedited procedures under this subsection to make final decisions relating to a ,federal project or operation to provide additional water supplies or address emergency drought conditions pursuant to subsections 7a7 and 7b74 7#b7 ,request for resolution 7,a7 ,in general ,upon the request of the ,state1 the head of an agency referred to in subsection 7a71 or the head of another ,federal agency responsible for carrying out a review of a project1 as applicable1 the ,secretary of the ,interior shall convene a final project decision meeting with the heads of all relevant ,federal agencies to decide whether to approve a project to provide emergency water supplies4 7,b7 ,meeting ,the ,secretary of the ,interior shall convene a meeting requested under subparagraph 7,a7 not later than #g days after receiving the meeting request4 7#c7 ,notification ,upon receipt of a request for a meeting under this subsection1 the ,secretary of the ,interior shall notify the heads of all relevant ,federal agencies of the request1 including the project to be reviewed and the date for the meeting4 7#d7 ,decision ,not later than #aj days after the date on which a meeting is requested under paragraph 7#b71 the head of the relevant ,federal agency shall issue a final decision on the project4 7#e7 ,meeting convened by ,secretary ,the ,secretary may convene a final project decision meeting under this subsection at any time1 at the discretion of the ,secretary1 regardless of whether a meeting is requested under paragraph 7#b74 #ajd4 ,emergency funding 7a7 ,financial assistance 7#a7 ,in general ,financial assistance may be made available under the ,reclamation ,states ,emergency ,drought ,relief ,act of #aiia 7#dc ,u4,s4,c4 #bbja et seq471 subtitle ,f of title ,,ix of the ,omnibus ,public ,land ,management ,act of #bjji 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ajcfa et seq47 7commonly known as the ,secure ,water ,act of #bjji71 and any other applicable ,federal law 7including regulations71 to be divided among each applicable program at the discretion of the ,secretary for eligible water projects to assist drought-plagued areas of the ,state and the ,west4 7#b7 ,additional availability ,financial assistance may be made available under this section to organizations and entities1 including tribal governments1 that are engaged in collaborative processes to restore the environment while settling water rights claims that are part of an active water rights adjudication or a broader settlement of claims that are part of a basin-wide solution for restoration4 7b7 ,types of assistance ,assistance under subsection 7a7 shall include a range of projects1 including-- 7#a7 the installation of pumps1 temporary barriers1 or operable gates for water diversion and fish protection2 7#b7 the installation of groundwater wells in wildlife refuges and other areas2 7#c7 the purchase or assistance in the purchase of water from willing sellers2 7#d7 conservation projects providing water supply benefits in the short-term2 7#e7 exchanges with any water district willing to provide water to meet the emergency water needs of other water districts in return for the delivery of equivalent quantities of water later that year or in future years2 7#f7 maintenance of cover crops to prevent public health impacts from severe dust storms2 7#g7 emergency pumping projects for critical health and safety purposes2 7#h7 activities to reduce water demand consistent with a comprehensive program for environmental restoration and settlement of water rights claims2 7#i7 the use of new or innovative water on-farm water conservation technologies or methods that may assist in sustaining permanent crops in areas with severe water shortages2 7#aj7 technical assistance to improve existing irrigation practices to provide water supply benefits in the short-term2 and 7#aa7 any other assistance the ,secretary determines to be necessary to increase available water supplies or mitigate drought impacts4 #aje4 ,emergency environmental reviews ,to minimize the time spent carrying out environmental reviews and to deliver water quickly that is needed to address emergency drought conditions1 the head of each applicable ,federal agency shall1 in carrying out this ,act1 consult with the ,council on ,environmental ,quality in accordance with section #aejf4aa of title #dj1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7including successor regulations7 to develop alternative arrangements to comply with the ,national ,environmental ,policy ,act of #aifi 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #dcba et seq47 during the emergency4 #ajf4 ,state revolving funds 7a7 ,in general ,the ,administrator of the ,environmental ,protection ,agency1 in allocating amounts for each of the fiscal years during which the ,state's emergency drought declaration is in force to ,state water pollution control revolving funds established under title ,,vi of the ,federal ,water ,pollution ,control ,act 7#cc ,u4,s4,c4 #acha et seq47 and the ,state drinking water treatment revolving loan funds established under section #adeb of the ,safe ,drinking ,water ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cjj;j-#ab71 shall1 for those projects that are eligible to receive assistance under section #fjc of the ,federal ,water ,pollution ,control ,act 7#cc ,u4,s4,c4 #achc7 or section #adeb7;a77#b7 of the ,safe ,drinking ,water ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cjj;j-#ab7;a77#b771 respectively1 that the ,state determines will provide additional water supplies most expeditiously to areas that are at risk of having an inadequate supply of water for public health and safety purposes or to improve resiliency to drought-- 7#a7 require the ,state to review and prioritize funding for such projects2 7#b7 issue a determination of waivers within #cj days of the conclusion of the informal public comment period pursuant to section #dcf7;c7 of title ,,iv of division ,g of ,public ,law #aac-gf2 and 7#c7 authorize1 at the request of the ,state1 #dj-year financing for assistance under section #fjc7;d77#b7 of the ,federal ,water ,pollution ,control ,act 7#cc ,u4,s4,c4 #achc7;d77#b77 or section #adeb7;f77#b7 of the ,safe ,drinking ,water ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cjj;j-#ab7;f77#b774 7b7 ,applicability ,paragraphs 7#b7 and 7#c7 of subsection 7a7 shall apply to any other ,state-- 7#a7 that has a ,state-declared drought declaration in force2 or 7#b7 for which a natural disaster has been declared by the ,secretary of ,agriculture under section #cba7;a7 of the ,consolidated ,farm and ,rural ,development ,act 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #aifa7;a77 for drought or agricultural disaster4 7c7 ,effect of section ,nothing in this section authorizes the ,administrator of the ,environmental ,protection ,agency to modify any funding allocation1 funding criteria1 or other requirement relating to ,state water pollution control revolving funds established under title ,,vi of the ,federal ,water ,pollution ,control ,act 7#cc ,u4,s4,c4 #acha et seq47 and the ,state drinking water treatment revolving loan funds established under section #adeb of the ,safe ,drinking ,water ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cjj;j-#ab7 for any ,state other than as described in subsections 7a7 and 7b74 #ajg4 ,drought planning assistance 7a7 ,in general ,upon the request of ,central ,valley ,project or ,klamath ,project contractors or other ,reclamation ,project contractors in the ,state1 the ,secretary of the ,interior1 acting through the ,commissioner of ,reclamation1 shall provide water supply planning assistance in preparation for and in response to dry1 critically dry1 and below normal water year types to those ,central ,valley ,project or ,klamath ,project contractors or other ,reclamation ,project contractors making those requests1 including contractors who possess contracts for refuge water supplies or deliver refuge water supplies4 7b7 ,types of assistance ,assistance under subsection 7a7 shall include-- 7#a7 hydrological forecasting2 7#b7 assessment of water supply sources under different water year classification types2 7#c7 identification of alternative water supply sources2 7#d7 guidance on potential water transfer partners2 7#e7 technical assistance regarding ,federal and ,state permits and contracts under the ,act of ,february #ba1 #aiaa 7#cf ,stat4 #ibe1 chapter #ada7 7commonly known as the ,warren ,act72 7#f7 technical assistance regarding emergency provision of water supplies for critical health and safety purposes2 7#g7 activities carried out in conjunction with the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration1 the ,national ,integrated ,drought ,information ,system1 and the ,state partners of the ,national ,integrated ,drought ,information ,system under the ,national ,integrated ,drought ,information ,system ,act of #bjjf 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #cac;d7-- 7,a7 to collect and integrate key indicators of drought severity and impacts2 and 7,b7 to produce and communicate timely monitoring and forecast information to local and regional communities1 including the ,san ,joaquin ,valley1 the ,delta1 and the ,central ,coast2 and 7#h7 any other assistance the ,secretary determines to be necessary4 #ajh4 ,calfed ,bay-,delta ,act reauthorization ,title ,i of the ,water ,supply1 ,reliability1 and ,environmental ,improvement ,act 7#aah ,stat4 #afha2 #abc ,stat4 #bhfj7 7as amended by section #bjg of title ,,ii of division ,d of the ,consolidated ,appropriations ,act1 #bjad7 is amended by striking #bjae each place it appears and inserting #bjah4 #aji4 ,reclamation ,states ,emergency ,drought ,relief ,act reauthorization 7a7 ,in general ,section #cja of the ,reclamation ,states ,emergency ,drought ,relief ,act of #aiia 7#dc ,u4,s4,c4 #bbda7 is amended-- 7#a7 by striking #ij1jjj1jjj and inserting #aij1jjj1jjj2 and 7#b7 by striking #bjab and inserting #bjai4 7b7 ,conforming amendment ,section #ajd7;c7 of the ,reclamation ,states ,emergency ,drought ,relief ,act of #aiia 7#dc ,u4,s4,c4 #bbad7;c77 is amended by striking #bjag and inserting #bjai4 #aaj4 ,secure ,water ,act reauthorization ,section #iejd of the ,omnibus ,public ,land ,management ,act of #bjji 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ajcfd7 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7a7-- 7,a7 in paragraph 7#b77;,a7-- 7i7 by striking 2 and and inserting 2 or2 7ii7 by striking 7,a7 be located within the ,states and inserting the following3 7,a7 be located within-- 7i7 the ,states 2 and 7iii7 by adding at the end the following3 7ii7 the ,state of ,hawaii2 and 2 and 7,b7 in paragraph 7#c77;,e71 by adding at the end the following3 7v7 ,authority of ,commissioner ,the ,commissioner of ,reclamation may1 at the discretion of the ,commissioner-- 7,i7 waive any cost-share requirements to address emergency situations2 and 7,,ii7 prioritize projects based on the ability of the projects to expeditiously yield water supply benefits during periods of drought4 2 and 7#b7 in subsection 7e71 by striking #bjj1jjj1jjj and inserting #cjj1jjj1jjj4 #aaa4 ,colorado ,river ,basin ,system water 7a7 ,in general ,as soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this ,act1 consistent with the purposes of section #iejd of the ,omnibus ,public ,land ,management ,act of #bjji 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ajcfd71 the ,secretary of the ,interior 7referred to in this section as the ,secretary7 shall fund or participate in pilot projects to increase ,colorado ,river ,system water in ,lake ,mead and the initial units of ,colorado ,river ,storage ,project reservoirs1 as authorized by the first section of the ,act of ,april #aa1 #aief 7#dc ,u4,s4,c4 #fbj71 to address the effects of historic drought conditions4 7b7 ,administration ,pilot projects under this section shall be funded through-- 7#a7 grants by the ,secretary to public entities that use water from the ,colorado ,river ,basin for municipal purposes1 for projects that are implemented by #a or more non-,federal entities2 or 7#b7 grants or other appropriate financial agreements to provide additional funds for renewing or implementing water conservation agreements that are in existence on the date of enactment of this ,act4 7c7 ,upper ,colorado ,river ,basin ,fund ,funds in the ,upper ,colorado ,river ,basin ,fund established by section #e of the ,colorado ,river ,storage ,project ,act 7#dc ,u4,s4,c4 #fbj;d7 shall not be used to carry out this section4 #aab4 ,effect on ,state laws ,nothing in this ,act preempts any ,state law in effect on the date of enactment of this ,act1 including area of origin and other water rights protections4 #aac4 ,klamath ,basin water supply ,the ,klamath ,basin ,water ,supply ,enhancement ,act of #bjjj 7,public ,law #ajf-dih2 #aad ,stat4 #bbba7 is amended-- 7#a7 by redesignating sections #d through #f as sections #e through #g1 respectively2 and 7#b7 by inserting after section #c the following3 #d4 ,water management and planning activities ,the ,secretary is authorized to engage in activities1 including entering into agreements and contracts1 or otherwise making financial assistance available1 to reduce water consumption or demand1 or to restore ecosystems 7including tribal fishery resources held in trust7 in the ,klamath ,basin watershed1 consistent with collaborative agreements for environmental restoration and settlements of water rights claims4 4 #aad4 ,termination of authorities 7a7 ,emergency projects ,the authority under section #ajc expires on the date on which the ,governor of the ,state suspends the state of drought emergency declaration4 7b7 ,other authority ,the authority under sections #ajd1 #aje1 and #ajf shall expire in a ,state or area on the earlier of-- 7#a7 the date on which the emergency drought declaration for the ,state or area is withdrawn2 or 7#b7 the date on which the ,secretary of ,agriculture suspends the natural disaster declaration issued under section #cba7;a7 of the ,consolidated ,farm and ,rural ,development ,act 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #aifa7;a77 for drought or an agricultural disaster for the ,state or area4 ,,ii ,federal disaster assistance #bja4 ,treatment of drought under the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act 7a7 ,findings ,congress finds that-- 7#a7 the term major disaster 7as defined in section #ajb of the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eabb77 includes drought1 yet no drought in the #cj years preceding the date of enactment of this ,act has been declared by the ,president to be a major disaster in any of the ,states in accordance with section #dja of that ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eagj72 7#b7 a major drought shall be eligible to be declared a major disaster or state of emergency by the ,president on the request of the ,governor of any ,state2 7#c7 droughts are natural disasters that do occur1 and while of a different type of impact1 the scale of the impact of a major drought can be equivalent to other disasters that have been declared by the ,president to be a major disaster under the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eaba et seq472 and 7#d7 droughts have wide-ranging and long-term impacts on ecosystem health1 agriculture production1 permanent crops1 forests1 waterways1 air quality1 public health1 wildlife1 employment1 communities1 ,state and national parks1 and other natural resources of a ,state and the people of that ,state that have significant value4 7b7 ,federal emergency assistance ,section #ejb7;a7 of the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eaib7;a77 is amended-- 7#a7 in paragraph 7#g71 by striking and after the semicolon at the end2 7#b7 in paragraph 7#h71 by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon2 and 7#c7 by adding at the end the following3 7#i7 provide disaster unemployment assistance in accordance with section #daj2 7#aj7 provide emergency nutrition and other assistance in accordance with section #dab2 and 7#aa7 provide crisis counseling assistance in accordance with section #daf4 4 ,april #b1 #bjad,read the second time and placed on the calendar