(NAFB.com) – The Biden Administration Wednesday released the Drought Resilience Interagency Working Group’s Summary Report.

The report outlines actions taken to date to improve drought-stricken communities’ longer-term resilience to drought through financial and technical assistance. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says, “collaboration and coordination among federal agencies has increased in an effort to more effectively deploy resources and support during these intense, drought-stricken times.” The Department of Interior and the Department of Agriculture co-chair the working group, which was created under the White House’s National Climate Task Force.

The Drought Resilience IWG agencies are working cooperatively in a whole-of-government manner, to address drought issues through existing programs and resources. There are many opportunities provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to provide critical funding to address water challenges, which includes drought. The Drought Resilience Interagency Working Group will facilitate coordination to deploy $13 billion in water-related investments, including $12.4 billion at the Department of Interior, and $918 million at USDA.