[2] The National Integrated Drought Information System Reauthorization Act of 2013 was introduced into the 113th United States Congress.

A similar measure, the Drought Information Act of 2013 (S. 376; 113th Congress), was introduced into and passed the United States Senate.

[3] President Barack Obama signed the National Integrated Drought Information System Reauthorization Act of 2013 into law as Pub.

[4] The NIDIS Act calls for an interagency, multi-partner approach to drought monitoring, forecasting, and early warning, led by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

[2] A drought that started in 2012 caused "some of the Great Lakes to drop to record lows," hurt farms, and effected shipping on the Mississippi River.

[8] The National Integrated Drought Information System Reauthorization Act of 2013 was introduced into the United States House of Representatives on June 19, 2013 by Rep. Ralph M. Hall (R, TX-4).

"[2] Supporters of the bill argued that the system is necessary to collect information needed to analyse weather and climate data.

[6] Executive Director of the Western States Water Council Tony Willardson argues in favor of the bill, saying that "it's hard to analyze data you don't have... NIDIS is a very important tool for evaluating the impacts of drought.