I am very pleased to announce that the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has modified its restrictions and will now allow the public to once again touch the elephants at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo. Since the restrictions were first put into place I have been in close contact with the Director of the Zoo and the Commissioner of the DEC. I am proud that I was able to contribute to this effort and play an integral role in the process. I am delighted that zoo guests will once again be able to interact and fully appreciate the elephants at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo.