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Press Releases & Testimony

NYSACHO’s advocacy efforts include the presentation of testimony at public hearings on fiscal and policy issues that affect public health. Testimony presented in the past five years is available to the public, listed in descending order by date.

NYSACHO President and Vice President 2025 Press Release  June 2, 2025

We’re proud to welcome the incoming officers of NYSACHO’s Board of Directors for 2025-2026! Congratulations to Heidi Bond, our new President, and Dr. Gregson Pigott, our new Vice President, as they officially began their terms on June 1, 2025. We look forward to their leadership and vision for the year ahead!

NYSACHO Press Release: Local Health Departments in New York State Proudly Celebrate National Public Health Week 2025  April 9, 2025
NYSACHO Press Release on NYSPHF Termination  April 3, 2025
NYSACHO Statement on CDC Stop Work Orders & $400 Million in Cuts Threatening Public Health Emergency Response Across New York State  March 27, 2025
NYSACHO PRESIDENT LINDA BEERS TESTIFIES ON NYSACHO’S 2025-26 STATE BUDGET PUBLIC HEALTH PRIORITIES 
Testimony of Linda Beers, President, NYSACHO and Director of Public Health, Essex County, on behalf of NYSACHO before the Joint Assembly and Senate Health Budget Hearing  February 11, 2025
NYSACHO MEMBERS ELECT 2024-2025 BOARD OF DIRECTORS  May 31, 2024
NYSACHO STATEMENT ON ADOPTED FY2025 STATE BUDGET  April 26, 2024
NYSACHO AND NYSDOH JOIN TO COMMEMORATE NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH WEEK WITH GRANTS TO 10 COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENTS TO AID EFFORTS IN COMBATTING CLIMATE CHANGE  April 15, 2024
NYSACHO PRESIDENT DR. IRINA GELMAN TESTIFIES ON NYSACHO’S 2024-25 STATE BUDGET PUBLIC HEALTH PRIORITIES  January 23, 2024
TESTIMONY OF DR. IRINA GELMAN, COMMISSIONER, NASSAU COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, ON BEHALF OF THE NEW YORK STATE ASSOCIATION OF COUNTY HEALTH OFFICIALS BEFORE THE JOINT ASSEMBLY AND SENATE HEALTH BUDGET HEARING  January 23, 2024
Testimony Of Sarah Ravenhall, NYSACHO Executive Director On Examining The Status Of The Health Care Workforce In New York State  December 20, 2023
NYSACHO MEMBERS ELECT 2023-2024 BOARD OF DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AND PRESIDENT  June 22, 2023
NYSACHO’s Final End of Session Statement  June 22, 2023
County Health Department Leads STOP THE BLEED Training Teaches New York State Association of County Health Officials Staff  May 10, 2023
COUNTY HEALTH OFFICIALS STATEMENT ON FY24 NEW YORK STATE BUDGET  May 5, 2023
COUNTY HEALTH OFFICIALS RECOGNIZE EARTH DAY BY ANNOUNCING CLIMATE AND HEALTH ADAPTATION AWARDS FOR LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS  April 21, 2023
NYSACHO Public Health Week  April 3, 2023
NYSACHO TESTIMONY HIGHLIGHTS 2023-24 STATE BUDGET PUBLIC HEALTH PRIORITIES  February 28, 2023
NYSACHO Testimony to the Joint Legislative Budget Hearing on the 2023-24 Executive Budget Proposal  February 27, 2023
PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS’ STATEMENT ON GOVERNOR HOCHUL’S 2023 2024 EXECUTIVE BUDGET PROPOSAL  February 2, 2023
PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS’ STATEMENT ON GOVERNOR HOCHUL’S STATE OF THE STATE MESSAGE  January 10, 2023
NYSACHO STATEMENT ON COMMISSIONER BASSETT DECLARING POLIO AN “IMMINENT THREAT TO PUBLIC HEALTH” 
STATEMENT ON GOVERNOR HOCHUL DECLARING POLIO A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY  September 9, 2022
MONKEYPOX PRESENTS NEW CHALLENGES TO STRAINED, UNDER RESOURCED PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM  July 28, 2022
NYSACHO MEMBERS ELECT 2022-23 BOARD OF DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AND PRESIDENT  June 1, 2022
PROFESSIONALS AND ORGANIZATIONS RECOGNIZED BY THEIR PEERS FOR EXCELLENCE IN PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE  May 19, 2022
NYSACHO 2022 Final Budget Agreement Statement  April 11, 2022
NYSACHO STATEMENT ON THE 2022-23 FINAL STATE BUDGET AGREEMENT  April 11, 2022
NYSACHO NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH WEEK  April 6, 2022
ADVOCATES, COUNTY EXECUTIVES, PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS RENEW CALL TO FULLY FUND CHILDHOOD LEAD POISONING PREVENTION ACTIVITIES  March 30, 2022
PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS’ STATEMENT ON LEGISLATURE’S ONE-HOUSE BUDGET BILLS  March 15, 2022
PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS, STATE LEGISLATIVE LEADERS CALL FOR INCREASED FUNDING FOR CHILDHOOD LEAD POISONING PREVENTION ACTIVITIES  March 11, 2022

Lower Blood Level Law Passed in 2019 Remains Underfunded. An Estimated 17,000 New York Children Under Age 6 Have Actionable Elevated Blood Lead Levels

NYSACHO PRESIDENT DR. INDU GUPTA TESTIFIES BEFORE LEGISLATIVE JOINT BUDGET HEARING ON HEALTH  February 8, 2022
NYSACHO Testimony to the Joint Legislative Budget Hearing on the 2022 Executive Budget Proposal  February 8, 2022
NYSACHO STATEMENT ON GOVERNOR HOCHUL’S 2022-23 EXECUTIVE BUDGET PROPOSAL  January 20, 2022
STATEMENT ON GOVERNOR HOCHUL’S 2022 STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS By Sarah Ravenhall, NYSACHO Executive Director  January 6, 2022
PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS, COUNTY LEADERS AND HEALTH ADVOCATES JOIN FORCES TO CALL FOR PASSAGE OF THE “PREPARE ACT” TO ADEQUATELY AND SUSTAINABLY FUND NEW YORK’S PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM  January 3, 2022
NYSACHO Provides Testimony to Senator Michelle Hinchey on Water Infrastructure Funding Reform Testimony  December 10, 2021
Press Release – NYSACHO TESTIFIES ON COMBATTING CHILDHOOD LEAD POISONING TO SENATE STANDING COMMITTEES ON HEALTH, HOUSING, CONSTRUCTION AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT  November 30, 2021
Rebuilding the Public Health Infrastructure to Improve Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention – NYSACHO and NYSAC Testimony to the Joint Senate Committees on Health and Housing, Construction and Community Development  November 30, 2021
NYSACHO Recognizes National Public Health Thank You Day  November 22, 2021
COUNTY HEALTH LEADERS JOIN WITH PEDIATRICIANS AND FAMILY PHYSICIANS TO EMPHASIZE IMPORTANCE OF VACCINATING CHILDREN AGES 5 AND OLDER AGAINST COVID-19  November 18, 2021
Press Release – NYSACHO TESTIFIES TO ASSEMBLY LABOR, HEALTH AND HIGH-ER EDUCATION COMMITTEES: PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM IS IN CRISIS  November 17, 2021
NYSACHO Provides Testimony to the Assembly Labor with Health and Higher Education Committees on Public Health Workforce  November 17, 2021
NYSACHO Statement Regarding State and Local Coordination of Pandemic Response  November 12, 2021
COUNTY HEALTH LEADERS PROVIDE TESTIMONY TO JOINT SENATE TASK FORCE ON OPIOIDS, ADDICTION AND OVERDOSE PREVENTION  October 20, 2021
NYSACHO’S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SARAH RAVENHALL, PROVIDES TESTIMONY OF BEHALF OF NYSACHO TO THE JOINT SENATE TASK FORCE ON OPIOIDS, ADDICTION AND OVERDOSE PREVENTION  October 20, 2021
COUNTY HEALTH LEADERS STATEMENT ON THE APPOINTMENT OF DR. MARY T. BASSETT AS NEW YORK STATE COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH  September 29, 2021
NYSACHO applauds Governor Hochul for recognizing the outstanding effort played by local health departments during the COVID 19 pandemic.  September 1, 2021
Statement from NYSACHO President Regarding Governor Hochul’s 8/24/2021 Press Briefing and Universal Masking for K-12 Schools  August 25, 2021
COUNTY HEALTH OFFICIALS TO NEW YORKERS: OUR PANDEMIC RESPONSE LEADERSHIP WILL REMAIN STEADFAST  August 11, 2021
NYSACHO Statement on Universal Masking and K-12 Guidance Related to Increasing COVID-19 Transmission Rates Throughout the State  August 5, 2021
NYSACHO Statement: LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS’ EFFORTS CONTRIBUTE TO LIFTING OF MOST COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS  June 15, 2021
NYSACHO MEMBERS ELECT 2021-2022 BOARD OF DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AND PRESIDENT  June 7, 2021
LAW ENFORCEMENT, COUNTY GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC HEALTH LEADERS UNITE TO STOP ABUSE OF PANDEMIC RESPONSE WORKERS  May 13, 2021
STATEMENT FROM NYSACHO EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SARAH RAVENHALL CONCERNING COVID-19 PREVENTION AND RESPONSE ACTIVITIES IN SCHOOLS  April 27, 2021
Statement by Sarah Ravenhall, Executive Director of the New York State Association of County Health Officials Regarding the SFY 2021 2022 State Budget  April 8, 2021
NYSACHO JOINS PUBLIC HEALTH COLLEAGUES ACROSS THE NATION TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH WEEK  April 7, 2021
A Coordinated Statement Regarding Legalized Cannabis Negotiations from the New York State Association of County Health Officials and New York State Public Health Association  March 17, 2021
NYSACHO PARTNERS WITH COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY TO CONDUCT STUDY OF COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENTS’ PREPAREDNESS FOR AND RESPONSE TO INITIAL SURGE OF COVID 19  March 1, 2021
COUNTY HEALTH OFFICIALS PRESENT STATE BUDGET PRIORITIES  February 26, 2021
2021 Joint Legislative Budget Hearing – NYSACHO Testimony on Executive Budget Proposal  February 25, 2021
EXECUTIVE BUDGET’S PUBLIC HEALTH PROVISIONS TO CHALLENGE CURRENT AND FUTURE PANDEMIC RESPONSE  January 29, 2021
PUBLIC HEALTH LEADERS WELCOME STATE’S DECISION TO MORE ACTIVELY ENGAGE LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS IN COVID-19 VACCINATION ACTIVITIES  January 12, 2021
Flu Vaccination is Vital Protection for Everyone Aged 6 Months and Older as Nation Faces “Twindemic” of Influenza and COVID-19  November 5, 2020
A Joint Statement on Cluster Action Initiative/School Testing from Sarah Ravenhall, Executive Director of the New York State Association of County Health Officials (NYSACHO) and Stephen J. Acquario, Executive Director of the New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC)  October 14, 2020
LOCAL HEALTH OFFICIALS COMMEND GOVERNOR CUOMO FOR ESTABLISHING VACCINE DISTRIBUTION & IMPLEMENTATION TASK FORCE – Statement by NYSACHO President Dr. Kevin Watkins  September 25, 2020
NYSACHO AWARDED $200,000 TO SUPPORT RURAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS’ RESPONSE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC  September 15, 2020
PUBLIC HEALTH FIRST RESPONDERS FACING THREATS AND HARASSMENT WHILE COMBATTING COVID-19 PANDEMIC – Statement by NYSACHO Executive Director Sarah Ravenhall  August 3, 2020
$30 MILLION ANNOUNCED FOR COVID-19 RESPONSE CRITICAL FOR NEW YORK’S 58 LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS Statement by NYSACHO President Kevin D. Watkins  July 31, 2020
CONTRACT TRACING IS A CORE FUNCTION OF LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS Statement by NYSACHO Executive Director Sarah Ravenhall  Last Revised: June 5, 2020
Published: June 16, 2020
THE NEED FOR A SUSTAINED COMMITMENT TO ADDRESSING RACIAL DISPARITIES Statement by NYSACHO Executive Director Sarah Ravenhall  June 16, 2020
NYSACHO MEMBERS ELECT 2020-2021 BOARD OF DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AND INCOMING PRESIDENT  June 1, 2020
AS PARTS OF THE STATE REOPEN AND NEW YORKERS LOOK FORWARD TO THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND, LOCAL HEALTH OFFICIALS URGE “CAUTION, REASON AND PATIENCE” –  May 21, 2020
STATE FUNDING MUST PRIORITIZE LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH RESPONSE CAPACITY – Statement by NYSACHO Executive Director Sarah Ravenhall  March 31, 2020
The Power of Public Health During a Global Pandemic – Statement by NYSACHO Executive Director Sarah Ravenhall  March 30, 2020
GOVERNOR’S EMERGENCY DECLARATION A CRITICAL AND SOUND STEP THAT WILL AID THE FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19 Statement by NYSACHO Executive Director Sarah Ravenhall  March 9, 2020
COVID-19 FUNDING UNDERSCORES IMPERATIVE FOR RESPONSIVE AND PROPERLY RESOURCED PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCIES  March 3, 2020

Statement from Executive Director, Sarah Ravenhall

NYSACHO supports the Covered Lives proposal and urges the Governor and Legislature to include a covered lives assessment of $40 million in the FY 2020-2021 budget.  February 7, 2020
NYSACHO Testimony 2020-2021 State Health Budget  February 1, 2020
Statement from Executive Director Sarah Ravenhall on NYSACHO’s Testimony at the January 30, 2020 Legislative Hearing on the Executive Budget  January 31, 2020
NYSACHO Press Release – NEW CDC REPORT CONFIRMS DIRECT LINK BETWEEN LEGAL CANNABIS AND VAPING ILLNESSES  January 17, 2020
Local Health Officials Respond to State of the State Message  January 9, 2020

Laud Governor’s Plans to Fight Vaping, Opioids and Tobacco and Oppose Adult Use Cannabis Linked to Vaping Illnesses and Fatalities

NYSACHO Testimony on Electronic Cigarettes and Vaping  November 7, 2019

Testimony submitted to the Senate Standing Committees on Consumer Protection, Health, and Education Public Hearing regarding the safety and potential harms of electronic cigarettes and vaping, especially among school-aged youth.

NYSACHO Testimony to the Assembly Minority Task Force on Water Quality – 10/29/19  October 30, 2019
LOCAL HEALTH OFFICIALS TO STATE LEADERS: VAPING ILLNESSES SOUND DEADLY ALARM ON THE DANGERS OF VAPING AND LEGALIZED RECREATIONAL CANNABIS  October 22, 2019
NYSACHO APPLAUDS GOVERNOR CUOMO FOR TAKING ACTION ON VAPING AS CASES OF ASSOCIATED LUNG DISEASE AND DEATHS CONTINUE TO RISE  September 11, 2019
STATEMENT FROM NEW YORK STATE ASSOCIATION OF COUNTY HEALTH OFFCIALS (NYSACHO) PRESIDENT DANIEL J. STAPLETON GOVERNOR CUOMO SIGNS BILL SAFEGUARDING RESIDENTS FROM TOBACCO-RELATED ILLNESS BY RAISING LEGAL TOBACCO PURCHASE AGE TO 21  July 17, 2019
NEW YORK STATE ASSOCIATION OF COUNTY HEALTH OFFICIALS (NYSACHO): 2019 LEGISLATIVE SESSION YIELDS NUMEROUS PROTECTIONS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH  June 21, 2019
LOCAL HEALTH OFFICIALS APPLAUD GOVERNOR, ASSEMBLY AND SENATE PASSAGE OF CRITICAL PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY STRENGTHENING IMMUNIZATION RATES IN SCHOOLS BY REPEALING NON-MEDICAL EXEMPTIONS FROM VACCINATIONS  June 14, 2019
NYSACHO Provides Testimony to the Senate Public Hearing on Suicide and Suicide Prevention June 4, 2019  June 5, 2019
COUNTY HEALTH OFFICIALS CONGRATULATE 2019-2020 BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND INCOMING PRESIDENT DANIEL J. STAPLETON, MBA, NIAGARA COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH DIRECTOR  May 31, 2019
NEW YORK’S COUNTY HEALTH OFFICIALS, PUBLIC HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS CELEBRATE NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH WEEK  April 4, 2019
NYSACHO Press Release – PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS’ STATEMENT ON 2019-2020 FINAL STATE BUDGET  April 4, 2019
STATEMENT FROM NYSACHO PRESIDENT PAUL PETTIT LOCAL HEALTH OFFICIALS LAUD SENATE PASSAGE OF BILL RAISING LEGAL TOBACCO PURCHASE AGE TO 21 MEASURE NOW AWAITS GOVERNOR’S SIGNATURE  April 4, 2019
NYSACHO Press Release – LEAD POISONING PREVENTION LAW CANNOT BE EFFECTIVELY IMPLEMENTED WITHOUT ADDITIONAL STATE FUNDS  March 15, 2019
Health Officials Laud Article 6 Restorations; Support Tobacco 21 and Blood Lead Level Reduction Plans, Request Additional Flexible Funding to Effectively Implement  March 15, 2019
LOCAL HEALTH OFFICIALS LAUD ASSEMBLY FOR PASSING BILL RAISING LEGAL TOBACCO PURCHASE AGE TO 21  March 7, 2019
Testimony of the New York State Association of County Health Officials (NYSACHO) to the Joint Legislative Committees on Health and Finance/Ways and Means Regarding the 2019-20 Executive Budget Proposal  February 6, 2019
NYSACHO Statement on Governor Cuomo’s 2019-2020 Budget Address  January 12, 2019
New York’s County Health Officials Asking Governor, Legislature to Raise Legal Age to 21 to Protect Young New Yorkers From Ravages of Tobacco Use  January 5, 2019
Availability of and Access to Opioid Overdose Reversal Drugs  May 17, 2018
Naloxone Access Survey 

Supporting document for testimony on availability of opioid overdose reversal drugs

Including E-Cigarettes in the Existing Clean Indoor Air Act  May 12, 2014

Testimony before the Senate Standing Committee on Health to consider including electronic cigarettes in the existing Clean Indoor Air Act and regulating liquid nicotine.

Early Intervention Fiscal Agent Implementation  October 22, 2013

Testimony to Joint Legislative Committees on Health, Insurance, and Oversight, Analysis, and Investigations

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NYSACHO is incorporated as a not-for-profit, non-partisan charitable organization with 501(c)(3) tax exempt status.
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