MIRACLE ON ICE CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL ACT

On 2025-04-28, Representative Brad Sherman (D-CA-32) delivered a floor speech titled "MIRACLE ON ICE CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL ACT" in the House.

MIRACLE ON ICE CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL ACT

Congressional Record, Volume 171 Issue 70 (Monday, April 28, 2025) [Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 70 (Monday, April 28, 2025)] [House] [Pages H1633-H1635] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] MIRACLE ON ICE CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL ACT 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. [[Page H1634]] 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. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Davidson) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Sherman) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Ohio. General Leave Mr. DAVIDSON. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 452. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Ohio? There was no objection. 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). Mr. STAUBER. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of my legislation, H.R. 452, the Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold Medal Act. Who can forget those words from legendary announcer Al Michaels: ``Eleven seconds. You've got 10 seconds to go. The countdown going on right now. Morrow up to Silk. Five seconds left in the game. Do you believe in miracles? Yes.'' Who can forget those legendary words on that Friday, February 22, 1980? What that hockey team did for our country during that time was they beat the most powerful team in the world. These amateurs from our college ranks, they beat the best team in the world. They beat the best team in the world at the 1980 Olympics in Lake Placid. Nobody gave them a chance. In fact, that game was tape delayed because they didn't think it was going to be significant. That was the most powerful moment in the history of sports. Madam Speaker, I will talk to you about the State of Minnesota. The State of Minnesota is the ``State of Hockey.'' It is our way of life. I am the first professional hockey player ever to be elected to the U.S. Congress. I have two other brothers who played professional hockey. My nephew plays with the Utah Hockey Club. Hockey is our way of life. What this 1980 Olympic team did is unimaginable for the sport of hockey. Those Minnesotans from my district were Buzz Schneider, Mark Pavelich, Bill Baker, Phil Verchota, and John Harrington. Look at the small towns where they came from: Grand Rapids, Eveleth, Babbitt, Virginia, and Duluth. These players grew up loving the game. They put that USA jersey on and were coached by Herb Brooks. We all remember the white jersey with ``USA'' on the front or a dark blue jersey with ``USA'' on the front. Ten days before that game, Madam Speaker, they had an exhibition game, and they were blown out at Madison Square Garden. Yet, a few days later, Herb Brooks had them ready. They were conditioned. They were ready. They played as a team. Movies were made about it. Growing up in Duluth, I had the privilege of watching many of these players play. Mark Johnson, who scored two goals in that game, was from the University of Wisconsin. I saw him play at the Duluth arena against Minnesota Duluth. He was magical. Phil Verchota, from Duluth East, came from a hardworking, blue-collar family. He went to the University of Minnesota as a standout. Bill Baker was from Grand Ra

Referenced legislation: HR452, HR452