[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9950 Introduced in House (IH)]
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118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 9950
To award 3 Congressional Gold Medals to the members of the 1980 U.S.
Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team, in recognition of their extraordinary
achievement at the 1980 Winter Olympics where, being comprised of
amateur collegiate players, they defeated the dominant Soviet hockey
team in the historic ``Miracle on Ice'', revitalizing American morale
at the height of the Cold War, inspiring generations and transforming
the sport of hockey in the United States.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 8, 2024
Mr. Stauber (for himself, Ms. Stefanik, Mr. Quigley, and Mr. Keating)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Financial Services
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To award 3 Congressional Gold Medals to the members of the 1980 U.S.
Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team, in recognition of their extraordinary
achievement at the 1980 Winter Olympics where, being comprised of
amateur collegiate players, they defeated the dominant Soviet hockey
team in the historic ``Miracle on Ice'', revitalizing American morale
at the height of the Cold War, inspiring generations and transforming
the sport of hockey in the United States.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold
Medal Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) The USA Olympic men's ice hockey team competed at the
1980 Winter Olympics, officially the XIII Olympic Winter Games
and known as the 1980 Lake Placid games, from February 13 to
24, 1980, in Lake Placid, New York.
(2) Team USA, comprised of collegiate players, defeated the
defending Olympic champion the Soviet Union 4-3 on February 22,
1980, in the final round of the 1980 Winter Olympics men's
hockey tournament.
(3) The 1980 USA Olympic men's hockey team roster
included--
(A) Bill Baker (Grand Rapids, MN);
(B) Neal Broten (Roseau, MN);
(C) Dave Christian (Warroad, MN);
(D) Steve Christoff (Richfield, MN);
(E) Jim Craig (North Easton, MA);
(F) Mike Eruzione (Winthrop, MA);
(G) John Harrington (Virginia, MN);
(H) Steve Janaszak (Saint Paul, MN);
(I) Mark Johnson (Madison, WI);
(J) Rob McClanahan (Saint Paul, MN);
(K) Ken Morrow (Flint, MI);
(L) Jack O'Callahan (Charlestown, MA);
(M) Mark Pavelich (Eveleth, MN);
(N) Mike Ramsey (Minneapolis, MN);
(O) Buzz Schneider (Grand Rapids, MN);
(P) Dave Silk (Scituate, MA);
(Q) Eric Strobel (Rochester, MN);
(R) Bob Suter (Madison, WI);
(S) Mark Wells (St. Clair Shores, MI); and
(T) Phil Verchota (Duluth, MN).
(4) The ``Miracle on Ice'' USA-Soviet Union final round
game aired on tape delay on Feb 22, 1980, from the Lake Placid
Games and drew 34,200,000 average viewers. The match is
remembered as a ``miracle'' as collegiate hockey players defied
expectations in defeating a Soviet team that won 4 consecutive
gold medals dating back to 1964.
(5) Team USA defeated Finland 4-1 in its final game to win
the gold medal, its first gold medal since 1960 in men's
hockey.
(6) Herb Brooks, the last player cut from the 1960 U.S.
Olympic team that won gold at Squaw Valley, guided the 1980
team to its historic gold medal. Known as a motivator, Brooks
molded a team built around hard work, belief in oneself and
belief in teammates. He reminded his team when they played the
Soviets, ``you were born to be hockey players, everyone one of
you . . . and you were meant to be here''.
(7) The tournament occurred at a time when the United
States was struggling with rampant stagflation, high gas
prices, hostages held in Iran, and increased tensions with the
Soviet Union whose invasion of Afghanistan led to the boycott
of the 1980 Summer Olympics.
(8) The Miracle on Ice was a turning point for American
hockey. The game was named the greatest sports moment of the
20th century by Sports Illustrated.
(9) The historic win brought hockey to the front-page of
newspapers everywhere, and forever opened the door to the NHL
for American-born players. The impact of the event was far-
reaching and is still being felt today.
(10) Since 1980 American interest in the sport of Hockey
has increased exponentially. Registrations with USA Hockey have
increased by nearly 400 percent since 1980 from 136,000 to over
564,000, and the number of NHL players from the United States
has increased from 72 in 1980 to 245 in 2024.
SEC. 3. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDALS.
(a) Award Authorized.--The Speaker of the House of Representatives
and the President pro tempore of the Senate shall make appropriate
arrangements for the presentation, on behalf of the Congress, of 3 gold
medals of appropriate design to the members of the 1980 U.S. Olympic
Men's Ice Hockey Team, in recognition of their extraordinary
achievement at the 1980 Olympic Winter Games where, being comprised of
amateur collegiate players, they defeated the dominant Soviet hockey
team in the historic ``Miracle on Ice'', revitalizing American morale
at the height of the Cold War, inspiring generations and transforming
the sport of hockey in the United States.
(b) Design and Striking.--For the purpose of the award referred to
in subsection (a), the Secretary of the Treasury (referred to in this
Act as the ``Secretary'') shall strike gold medals with suitable
emblems, devices, and inscriptions to be determined by the Secretary.
(c) Disposition of Medals.--Following the award of the gold medals
under subsection (a)--
(1) one gold medal shall be given to the Lake Placid
Olympic Center in Lake Placid, NY, where it shall be displayed
as appropriate and made available for research;
(2) one gold medal shall be given to the United States
Hockey Hall of Fame in Eveleth, MN, where it shall be displayed
as appropriate and made available for research; and
(3) one gold medal shall be given to the U.S. Olympic and
Paralympic Museum in Colorado Springs, CO, where it shall be
displayed as appropriate and made available for research.
SEC. 4. DUPLICATE MEDALS.
The Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the gold
medals struck under section 3, at a price sufficient to cover the costs
thereof, including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, and
overhead expenses.
SEC. 5. STATUS OF MEDALS.
(a) National Medals.--The medals struck under this Act are national
medals for purposes of chapter 51 of title 31, United States Code.
(b) Numismatic Items.--For purposes of sections 5134 and 5136 of
title 31, United States Code, all medals struck under this Act shall be
considered to be numismatic items.
SEC. 6. AUTHORITY TO USE FUND AMOUNTS; PROCEEDS OF SALE.
(a) Authority To Use Fund Amounts.--There is authorized to be
charged against the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund such
amounts as may be necessary to pay for the costs of the medals struck
pursuant to this Act.
(b) Proceeds of Sale.--The amounts received from the sale of
duplicate bronze medals authorized under section 4 shall be deposited
into the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund.
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