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Rep. Tom Latham

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the recent heroic action of Eldora, Iowa Police Officer Elson ``Skip'' Ehrhardt. On March 5, 2008 at 12:48 a.m., while Officer Ehrhardt was on patrol, he received an emergency page indicating that a woman was in active labor a half block away in the Merritt Mobile Home Court. When Officer Ehrhardt arrived on the scene, he had to urge a hesitant woman to leave the bathroom where she had begun to go into labor. When she eventually came out, Ehrhardt realized that her water had broken and that there was no time to get her medical assistance. He noticed that the baby's head was on its way out, and about a minute later, at 12:57 a.m., Officer Ehrhardt had the baby in his arms. He then quickly unwrapped the umbilical cord and rubbed the baby vigorously until the baby began to cry, just as an ambulance arrived with paramedics. Officer Ehrhardt's alertness and decisive decision making in such a critical situation goes above and beyond what we are asked of as citizens of this country. His courage illustrates the compassion of Iowans; willing to do whatever it takes for a neighbor in need. I know my colleagues in the United States Congress join me in congratulating Officer Ehrhardt on a job well done. It is an honor to represent such a compassionate Iowan in Congress, and I wish Officer Ehrhardt the best in his future endeavors.