Republican Accomplishments for the American People

Floor Speech

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Mr. ARRINGTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Utah, my dear friend, fellow warrior for fiscal responsibility, and one of my favorite Members who is in the trenches fighting for the future of this country and to ensure that we don't bankrupt it but that we preserve the freedom and opportunities for our children. I know he loves his family, and that love manifests in the way he conducts himself here in Washington and his leadership. I thank him for that.

Mr. Speaker, I thank him for the opportunity to rise to honor the life and legacy of a dear friend of mine, Officer Dave Smith. He passed away a couple weeks ago. This is a man that I met in a very interesting and dubious way. I was pulled over for speeding. I wasn't driving at the time. This was in my first term, my first campaign for Congress. Out of the car comes this almost 7-foot gigantic man who looked like he was going to throw me in jail, and, instead, I got a warning; but better than that, I got a friend for life, a brother in Christ for eternity, and I just couldn't imagine the kind of relationship I would have with this very special man.

Dave would call me from time to time and leave the most encouraging messages. He was, like I said, almost 7 feet tall. He was a giant of a man. His stature was only eclipsed by the size of his heart--for God, for family, and for this country. I always looked forward to hearing the voicemails he would leave me and the encouraging words, the affirming words. He would say: ``Keep your head up.'' He would say: ``Keep your eyes on the Lord.'' He would say: ``Keep fighting the good fight because we need you.''

I have kept those, Mr. Speaker, on my phone, and I listened to them the other day before I went to his funeral. I think about Barnabas, the son of encouragement in the Bible. I can tell you, Dave Smith was my Barnabas. I cherish the friendship. I will cherish those words of encouragement.

His funeral was a celebration the way I would want my funeral to be. It was a testament to a life well lived, a life well lived because of the people like me whose lives he touched, for the service that he gave day in and day out to protect and serve his community as an educator, as a law enforcement officer, as a mentor, as a coach. It was a testament to the family he loved so dearly.

All of his children, eight in total, were there at the funeral. The Bible says in Proverbs that a good man will deposit an inheritance for his children and his children's children. Let me be clear, watching his son Brennon stand in that pulpit and love on his dad and honor his dad, it was clear. You could see the leadership, the love, and the character in his oldest son. It was clear to me that that proverb had been fulfilled, that Dave Smith left his children and his community a good inheritance.

It was also a homecoming celebration because as believers, the Bible teaches us that while we grieve the loss of our friends and family members, it says that we are not to grieve as the world grieves because of those promises, the promises that we hear often quoted, the promises of God that whoever believes in his Son shall not perish but live forever. I know that was a promise that Officer Dave Smith believed with all of his heart.

We lost one of west Texas' finest in Big Dave Smith. I know Taneka lost her husband, his family lost their father, the world lost a bright light, and I lost a friend and brother in Christ, but he is not lost. He is alive and well today, maybe more so than ever. He is home. He is with his Heavenly Father. He has inherited that promise, eternal life.

Because he was so dedicated to his faith, I am going to end with a scripture verse that I hope encourages everybody who would listen to this commemorative set of remarks for Dave Smith.

In Romans 8:38-39, Paul is writing to the church at Rome, and he says: ``For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.''

He is home. He is present with his Heavenly Father. I would just say to Taneka and his family that we will be with him again one day in paradise for all eternity. That is the hope we have.

I thank brother Dave Smith. I know he is resting on high. I know I will see him again.

God bless the Smith family. God bless our great country.

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