Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold Medal Act
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The law awards three Congressional Gold Medals to the members of the 1980 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team in recognition of their upset victory over the Soviet Union in the 'Miracle on Ice' game and their subsequent gold medal win.
What this law does
What it does
The law directs the Speaker of the House and the President pro tempore of the Senate to arrange for the award, on behalf of Congress, of three gold medals to the members of the 1980 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team. It authorizes the Treasury Secretary to strike the medals and, after the award, sends one each to the Lake Placid Olympic Center, the United States Hockey Hall of Fame Museum in Eveleth, Minnesota, and the United States Olympic & Paralympic Museum in Colorado Springs, for display and research use. The law also lets the Secretary strike and sell bronze duplicate medals to cover their costs, treats all medals as national medals and numismatic items under existing Treasury law, and authorizes charging the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund for the costs of striking them.
Key provisions
- 1Directs congressional leaders to arrange for the award of three gold medals to the 1980 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team
- 2Authorizes the Treasury Secretary to design and strike the gold medals
- 3Distributes the three medals to the Lake Placid Olympic Center, the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Museum, and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum for display and research
- 4Authorizes striking and selling bronze duplicate medals at a price covering production costs
- 5Classifies all medals struck under the Act as national medals and numismatic items under existing Treasury law
- 6Authorizes charging medal production costs to the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund and depositing duplicate sale proceeds back into it
Who is affected
The surviving and honored members of the 1980 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team, the three museums that will receive and display the medals, and the U.S. Mint, which will strike the medals and any bronze duplicates sold to collectors.
Why it matters
The medals formally recognize the team's achievement and preserve related artifacts at museums for public research and display. The law creates no ongoing program or regulatory change; its practical effect is limited to the medal award, its funding through the Mint's existing fund, and the sale of duplicate bronze medals.
What changed
Agencies directed to act
Funding and costs
- such amounts as may be necessary
to cover the costs of striking the gold and bronze medals
Legislative status & sources
Latest action
Became Public Law No: 119-53.
Official CRS summary
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This act provides for the award of Congressional Gold Medals to the members of the 1980 U.S. Olympic men's ice hockey team in recognition of the team's achievement at the 1980 Winter Olympic Games.
Legislative subjects
Athletes; Colorado; Congressional tributes; Minnesota; New York State; Olympic games; Professional sports; Sports and Recreation