Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold Medal Act
Floor Speech
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Mr. DAVIDSON. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass 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.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 452
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 February 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 National Hockey League 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 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 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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Mr. DAVIDSON. 452.
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Mr. DAVIDSON. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, no one has done more work on this than its originator, our esteemed colleague from the great State of Minnesota, Pete Stauber.
I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Stauber).
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Mr. DAVIDSON. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise to support H.R. 452. The bill awards Congressional Gold Medals to honor the 1980 U.S. Olympic men's hockey team.
Madam Speaker, it can't be stated any better than Mr. Stauber did. It was such a beautiful, impassioned speech from someone who has lived so much of hockey.
Yet, the quote from Coach Herb Brooks that sticks out to me is: ``Great moments are born from great opportunity.''
We all know the line. It is an unforgettable one. They seized the moment at a time when I was too young to really comprehend what it meant. When you watch it later in life, as a guy who enlisted in the Army during the Cold War, to see moments like that that move the Nation and unite us, you see what sports can do.
At the same time, the Soviet Union had a hockey team that was dominant on the ice. They seemed insurmountable, but our American athletes showed that they were not. It showed the hope and optimism that it was possible within our country that we could defeat insurmountable odds. The coach and that team deserve the credit.
Madam Speaker, I am glad that we are taking this opportunity to honor them with a Congressional Gold Medal. These 20 men played with everything they had. They outskated, outplayed, and just fought harder, leaving everything on the ice to win that victory.
Madam Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
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Mr. DAVIDSON. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Madam Speaker, in closing, I reiterate the importance of the 1980 Olympic men's ice hockey team uniting during such a challenging and turbulent period in American history. Their unforgettable victory solidified the Nation's legacy of excellence, both on the ice and on the global stage.
We owe these men a great debt of gratitude for transforming and shaping the landscape of American hockey and, broadly, sport itself over these past four decades.
Madam Speaker, I thank Congressman Stauber for his leadership and all of my colleagues for helping advance this important measure.
Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
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