[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 146 (Monday, September 8, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6438-S6439]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SA 3828. Mr. MORAN (for Mr. Cramer) proposed an amendment to the bill
H.R. 452, 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; as follows:
Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the
following:
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 United States 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 ice hockey tournament.
(3) The 1980 United States Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team
roster included--
(A) Bill Baker (Grand Rapids, Minnesota);
(B) Neal Broten (Roseau, Minnesota);
(C) Dave Christian (Warroad, Minnesota);
(D) Steve Christoff (Richfield, Minnesota);
(E) Jim Craig (North Easton, Massachusetts);
(F) Mike Eruzione (Winthrop, Massachusetts);
(G) John Harrington (Virginia, Minnesota);
(H) Steve Janaszak (Saint Paul, Minnesota);
(I) Mark Johnson (Madison, Wisconsin);
(J) Rob McClanahan (Saint Paul, Minnesota);
(K) Ken Morrow (Flint, Michigan);
(L) Jack O'Callahan (Charlestown, Massachusetts);
(M) Mark Pavelich (Eveleth, Minnesota);
(N) Mike Ramsey (Minneapolis, Minnesota);
(O) Buzz Schneider (Grand Rapids, Minnesota);
(P) Dave Silk (Scituate, Massachusetts);
(Q) Eric Strobel (Rochester, Minnesota);
(R) Bob Suter (Madison, Wisconsin);
(S) Mark Wells (St. Clair Shores, Michigan); and
[[Page S6439]]
(T) Phil Verchota (Duluth, Minnesota).
(4) The ``Miracle on Ice'' United States and Soviet Union
final round game aired on tape delay on Feb 22, 1980, from
Lake Placid and drew 34,200,000 average viewers. The match is
remembered as a ``miracle'' as collegiate ice hockey players
defied expectations in defeating a Soviet team that won 4
consecutive gold medals dating back to 1964.
(5) Team USA defeated Finland 4-2 in its final game to win
the gold medal, its first gold medal since 1960 in men's ice
hockey.
(6) Herb Brooks, the last player cut from the 1960 United
States Olympic Men's Ice Hockey 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 ice hockey
in the United States. The game was named the greatest sports
moment of the 20th century by Sports Illustrated.
(9) The historic win brought ice hockey to the front-page
of newspapers everywhere, and forever opened the door to the
National Hockey League for players born in the United States.
The impact of the event was far-reaching and is still being
felt today.
(10) Since 1980, interest in the United States in the sport
of ice 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 National
Hockey League 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 award, on behalf
of Congress, of 3 gold medals of appropriate design to the
members of the 1980 United States Olympic Men's Ice Hockey
Team, in recognition of their extraordinary achievement at
the XIII Olympic Winter Games where, being comprised of
amateur collegiate players, they defeated the dominant Soviet
hockey team in the historic ``Miracle on Ice'', revitalizing
morale in the United States at the height of the Cold War,
inspiring generations, and transforming the sport of ice
hockey in the United States.
(b) Design and Striking.--For the purposes 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, New York, where it shall be
displayed and made available for research, as appropriate;
(2) one gold medal shall be given to the United States
Hockey Hall of Fame Museum in Eveleth, Minnesota, where it
shall be displayed and made available for research, as
appropriate; and
(3) one gold medal shall be given to the United States
Olympic & Paralympic Museum in Colorado Springs, Colorado,
where it shall be displayed and made available for research,
as appropriate.
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.--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 under this Act.
(b) Proceeds of Sale.--Amounts received from the sale of
duplicate bronze medals authorized under section 4 shall be
deposited into the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund.
______