# Plain Language Summary: Drought Preparedness Act

This bill extends a federal drought relief program that helps western states deal with water shortages. The program, originally created back in 1991, was set to expire in 2022, but this bill pushes that expiration date forward to 2028. Essentially, it keeps the program alive for six more years so states can continue accessing federal support during droughts.

The Reclamation States Emergency Drought Relief Act provides emergency funding and assistance to states in the western U.S. that depend on water from federal water projects, particularly those managed by the Bureau of Reclamation. When droughts hit and water becomes scarce, this program helps states and water districts pay for emergency measures like alternative water supplies, conservation efforts, and other drought-related projects. Without this extension, the program would have stopped providing this assistance, leaving states to handle severe water shortages on their own.

For people living in western states—especially those in areas that rely on federal water systems for drinking water, agriculture, or other uses—this extension means continued access to emergency drought assistance if water becomes critically short. Farmers, cities, and water districts in states like Colorado, California, Arizona, and others can continue to tap into federal resources to manage water crises. The bill also ensures that Congress continues to have the authority to fund these drought relief efforts through 2028, rather than having to pass new legislation to restart the program.

Drought Preparedness Act

Neguse, Joe

Drought Preparedness Act This bill reauthorizes through FY2028 the Reclamation States Emergency Drought Relief Act of 1991, which allows the Bureau of Reclamation to provide drought assistance to Hawaii or certain western states.