Albany, N.Y.--State Senator Tom O'Mara (R,C,I-Big Flats), Chairman of the Senate Environmental Conservation Committee, recently questioned state Health Department (DOH) Commissioner Howard Zucker at the Legislature's Joint Public Hearing on Water Quality and Contamination

In particular, O'Mara highlighted DOH's swift adoption of regulations to implement a recently enacted state law sponsored by O'Mara and Southern Tier Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo (D-Endwell) requiring schools to test their drinking water systems for lead contamination.

That action is being widely praised and viewed as a landmark, first-in-the-nation action to better protect children and an example of how the state's legislative process can and should work better to address critical challenges and crises. 

Watch the video HERE.