[119th Congress Public Law 53]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[[Page 701]]
MIRACLE ON ICE CONGRESSIONAL
GOLD MEDAL ACT
[[Page 139 STAT. 702]]
Public Law 119-53
119th Congress
An Act
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. <<NOTE: Dec. 12, 2025 - [H.R.
452]>>
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: Miracle on Ice
Congressional Gold Medal Act. 31 USC 5111 note.>>
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);
[[Page 139 STAT. 703]]
(S) Mark Wells (St. Clair Shores, Michigan); and
(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.
[[Page 139 STAT. 704]]
(c) <<NOTE: State listing.>> 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.
Approved December 12, 2025.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 452:
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CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 171 (2025):
Apr. 28, considered and passed House.
Sept. 8, considered and passed Senate, amended.
Sept. 15, House concurred in Senate amendment.
DAILY COMPILATION OF PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS (2025):
Dec. 12, Presidential remarks.
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