The House of Representatives last week approved legislation to extend the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) through 2018. The bill, H.R. 2431, authorizes the program to receive up to $13.5 million per year in funding. The move came just a week after senators approved a similar reauthorization measure (S. 376) that would provide the program with up to $12 million annually. Congressional negotiators will now hammer out a final bill.
Congress created NIDIS in 2006 to provide the nation with a drought early warning system and tools to assess potential drought impacts. It operates the U.S. Drought Portal, which serves as a clearinghouse for drought-related information.