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Arrington Introduces ‘Smitty Check Act’ Honoring Lubbock Native Caleb Smither by Enforcing Stronger Safety Protocols in Military

Washington, March 6, 2026
Tags: Veterans
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Washington, D.C. – House Budget Chairman Jodey Arrington (TX-19) introduced the Smitty Check Act, legislation honoring Private Second Class Caleb “Smitty” Smither of Lubbock, Texas, who died on active duty at Fort Bragg, North Carolina in 2020 after suffering a head injury and returning to his barracks while ill. Despite multiple medical visits in the days leading up to his death, no one physically checked on Smither, and he was not discovered until five days later.

Chairman Arrington previously secured reforms honoring Smither by directing the Army to report to Congress on the implementation and enforcement of the “Smitty Check” protocol – requiring leadership to monitor servicemembers following injury or illness and strengthening accountability for their welfare. Building on that progress, the Smitty Check Act would expand these lifesaving safeguards across the entire Department of War, establishing a standardized expectation for in-person wellness checks across all branches of the Armed Forces.
 
“Private Caleb ‘Smitty’ Smither of Lubbock lived his dream of serving our country as an Army paratrooper, but his life was tragically cut short due to preventable accountability failures,” said Chairman Arrington. “After years of pushing for reform and already securing ‘Smitty Checks’ for the Army, my Smitty Check Act takes the next step by expanding those proven measures across the entire Department of War and establishing a clear standard of in person verification when a service member is injured, ill, or on sick call, ensuring no soldier is ever left unaccounted for when leadership has a duty to verify their safety. I am proud to lead this effort to strengthen leadership responsibility, uphold the sacred promise to leave no man behind, and support the men and women in uniform who answer the call to defend our nation.” 
 
“I am truly moved by the incredible support of the American Legion, TAPS, and the Members of Congress who have rallied behind the Smitty Check. Since Caleb’s death, Congressman Jodey Arrington has been there every step of the way, fighting for Caleb and for accountability,” said Heather Baker, mother of Private Caleb Smither. “Now, after six years of advocacy, seeing leaders unite around this effort brings real hope—not just for me, but for military families across our nation. The Smitty Check is a simple, face-to-face act—grounded in human connection and designed to ensure no one is overlooked. The military prides itself on checking, double-checking, and triple-checking equipment, processes, and missions. With the Smitty Check, we extend that same principle to our people—so no Soldier is ever left behind. With this level of support, I am hopeful the Smitty Check will soon become a reality for all service members. When we show up for them, we affirm our principles as a nation—because the way we treat those who serve is a direct measure of our nation’s moral and social well-being. By honoring that responsibility, we help ensure no family suffers needless loss and that our service members are supported as they work toward their version of the American Dream.” 
 
“The tragic death of Private Second Class Caleb ‘Smitty’ Smither exposed a devastating accountability failure within our armed forces,” said Rep. Mike Lawler (NY-17). “By requiring mandatory ‘Smitty Checks’ and escalating to in-person wellness verification when a servicemember is injured, ill, or unresponsive, this legislation ensures no one falls through the cracks.” 

“We don’t leave our own behind – not on the battlefield and not on base,” said Rep. Addison McDowell (NC-06). “This bill makes sure all service-members are actually accounted for, face to face. I’m proud to back Chairman Arrington’s effort to fix this.”  
 
“Private Caleb ‘Smitty’ Smither should never have been left alone without anyone checking on him,” said Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (FL-13). “The Smitty Check Act is a commonsense reform to ensure our servicemembers, especially those who are sick or injured, are accounted for and cared for. If someone is serving this country, the least we can do is make sure they are not forgotten when they need help most.”
 
“No service member should lose their life due to a lack of follow-up care,” said Rep. John Rose (TN-06). “This legislation requires trained professionals to check on our brave men and women in uniform after a significant injury, illness, or while they’re on sick call. I am proud to cosponsor Chairman Arrington’s bill and I believe it will save American lives.”  
 
“The Smitty Check Act is about accountability, dignity, and never leaving a servicemember behind,” said Rep. Matt Van Epps (TN-07). “The heartbreaking loss of Private Second Class Caleb ‘Smitty’ Smither exposed a dangerous gap in oversight that no military family should ever have to endure. By establishing mandatory ‘Smitty Checks’ and requiring in-person verification when contact cannot be made, this legislation creates a uniform, lifesaving standard of care for those who are injured, seriously ill, or on sick call. I am grateful to Rep. Arrington for introducing this critical bill and for his leadership in ensuring our servicemembers are accounted for.”  
 
“The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) strongly supports the 'Smitty Check Act' and thanks Representative Arrington for introducing this life-saving legislation, which is about one simple but sacred responsibility: never losing sight of the men and women who serve our nation,” said Bonnie Carroll, President and Founder, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS). “When a service member is injured, falls ill, or seeks medical care, we have a duty to ensure they are not just treated, but truly accounted for. The Smitty Check Act establishes clear, consistent wellness check requirements across the Armed Forces. By requiring follow-up contact, this bill strengthens accountability, improves communication within units, and reinforces a culture where health and welfare are mission priorities. The Government Accountability Office found that 93% of troops with 'involuntary' absences are eventually found dead. Readiness depends on people. Taking care of our troops is not optional — it is fundamental to leadership, to morale, and to the safety of our Armed Forces.”  
 
This legislation is also endorsed by the American Legion, the largest U.S. veterans organization with more than 1.6 million members.


GAO Findings: 

  • In February, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that gaps in policies, definitions, and data tracking across the military services can hinder efforts to quickly locate missing or unresponsive servicemembers and mitigate risk. From FY2015–FY2024, the services recorded 295 servicemembers as involuntarily absent in nonhostile settings with approximately 93 percent (274 cases) resulting in a declaration of death.  
  • GAO also identified inconsistent classifications of servicemember absences as voluntary or involuntary, differences in how “missing” is defined across services, and uneven data systems – contributing to an incomplete and unreliable response to these incidents across the Department. 

Background:

  • The Smitty Check Act requires the Department of War to establish a standardized expectation for wellness check procedures across all branches of the Armed Forces for servicemembers who are injured, ill, or on sick call. 
  • These “Smitty Checks” would ensure leaders escalate to in-person verification when a servicemember cannot be reached through digital communication methods, strengthening accountability for the health and safety of those in uniform.
  • The legislation builds on oversight reforms Chairman Arrington secured in the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act, which directed the Army to report to Congress on its implementation and enforcement of the “Smitty Check” protocol. This protocol was first set forth as Army policy in 2024 following a letter sent by Chairman Arrington requesting a review of the circumstances surrounding Private Second Class Caleb “Smitty” Smither’s death and the corrective actions taken in response. 
  • The Smitty Check Act expands this accountability framework across the entire Department of War to ensure consistent standards across the Armed Forces.
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