The Copper Shield is awarded annually by the Unified Arizona Veterans (UAV) to an outstanding Legislator for exceptional service in support of military veterans and their families. The Copper Shield Award consists of a Copper Shield embossed with the UAV emblem mounted on a large plaque with an engraved inscription.
Senator Steve Smith has clearly demonstrated his support for the Veterans in Arizona by sponsoring and supporting legislation meaningful to veterans. He has established a quantifiable record of bipartisanship regarding veteran’s issues and by engaging with Military leaders and Veterans Administration officials, defining and clarifying, and ultimately by voting for legislation supportive of veterans in committee, and upon the voting floor.
Senator Smith was among the very first to expedite the nomination of USAF Academy Graduate and career officer, Col Wanda Wright, thus ensuring continuity of leadership at the Arizona Department of Veterans Services. And when the Phoenix Veterans Hospital became headline news, Senator Smith, as Chairman of the Commerce and Public Safety Committee, ensured that the Interim Medical Care Director had an opportunity to address his committee regarding wait time, patient care, and the plan being formulated to ease, and ultimately, resolve critical issues. Finally, in the spirit of continued dialogue, Senator Smith has also organized an ‘informal Military Day’ which brings the key leaders of the Arizona Military, the VA Hospital and the Arizona Dept. of Veterans Services together with legislative members of his committee.
In 2015, Senator Smith sponsored a significant item of legislation, Senate Concurrent Memorial 1008 (SCM1008). It was unanimously passed in both the Arizona House and Senate and then urged by the US Dept. of Veteran Affairs to review and improve the veteran’s Disability Rating Process.
Of the 26 bills introduced by the Veterans Caucus in 2015, 14 of them became law. Twelve of those were assigned to Senator Smith’s committee, Public Safety, Military and Technology.
