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119-hr-5610119th Congress

Improving Drought Monitoring Act

Sponsored By: Representative Taylor, David J. [R-OH-2]

Introduced

Summary

Strengthen and standardize drought data and governance. This bill would extend improvements to the U.S. Drought Monitor and create an interagency framework to make drought data more consistent and usable across agencies.

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  • Would extend the period for Drought Monitor improvements to 2030 and require methods to include more in‑situ and remote sensing data. The working group would publish recommendations within one year.
  • Would create a Drought Monitor Interagency Working Group that includes USDA and NOAA representatives, a National Drought Mitigation Center rep, an academic Cooperative Institute for Research to Operations in Hydrology rep, and three state mesonet representatives from qualifying drought‑prone frontier states. The group would identify data gaps, address barriers to using datasets, and develop transparent vetting methods for modeled and remote sensing products.
  • Would require a memorandum of understanding between the Farm Service Agency and the Forest Service to align regional drought severity practices, harmonize determinations when agencies disagree, and ensure consistent information for grazing permittees, operators, and other stakeholders.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Drought Monitor improvements through 2030

This bill would extend the current authority to improve the U.S. Drought Monitor from 2023 to 2030. It would keep improvement efforts authorized through 2030. It would not by itself add new funding or payments.

Farm Service and Forest Service align drought calls

This bill would require the Farm Service Agency and the Forest Service to sign an agreement within 60 days after the working group’s report. They would align how they rate regional drought and provide a way to fix inconsistent calls at the same map scale. They would use the U.S. Drought Monitor when practicable. They would give consistent drought information to grazing permit holders, operators, and other affected users.

New group to improve drought data

This bill would set up an interagency working group within 180 days to improve the data used for the U.S. Drought Monitor. USDA’s Office of the Chief Economist would chair it, with members from USDA, NOAA, Interior, the National Drought Mitigation Center, a university hydrology institute, and three state mesonet programs from states with at least 5 severe‑drought years during 2012–2023 and over 50% frontier areas. The group would propose ways to add more local data, open access to useful federal datasets, and vet satellite and model products. It would file a report within 1 year, and within 180 days after that report USDA, with Commerce and Interior, would use the recommendations where practicable. The group would end 90 days after filing the report.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Taylor, David J. [R-OH-2]

OH • R

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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