The United States Senate has unanimously approved the Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold Medal Act, a bill recognizing the 1980 U.S. Olympic Men’s Hockey Team for their unexpected victory over the Soviet Union’s team during the Winter Olympics. The American squad, composed mainly of amateur college players, defeated the four-time defending champions in the semifinals and went on to secure the gold medal, an event widely remembered as the “Miracle on Ice.”
Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) joined more than 70 colleagues in co-sponsoring this legislation. The act will commemorate the 45th anniversary of the team’s achievement by awarding three Congressional Gold Medals. These medals will be displayed at significant sites: the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Museum in Colorado, the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in Minnesota, and the Lake Placid Olympic Center in New York.
“The Miracle on Ice hockey team embodied the very best of America’s spirit—perseverance, unity, and determination in the face of great odds. I’m proud to support awarding the 1980 Olympic team the Congressional Gold Medal in recognition of their lasting impact on our nation,” said Senator Young.
A broad bipartisan group of senators supported this measure. In addition to Senator Young, notable co-sponsors include Senators Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Jim Banks (R-Ind.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), John Curtis (R-Utah), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), John Hoeven(R-N.D.) Jon Husted(R-Ohio), Cindy Hyde-Smith(R-Miss.) Jim Justice(R-W.Va.) John Kennedy(R-La.) Andy Kim(D-N.J.) Angus King(I-Maine) Amy Klobuchar(D-Minn.) James Lankford(R-Okla.) Ben Ray Lujan(D-N.M.) Cynthia Lummis(R-Wyo.) Roger Marshall(R-Kan.) Dave McCormick(R-Pa.) Ashley Moody(R-Fla.) Jerry Moran(R-Kan.) Bernie Moreno(R-Ohio) Markwayne Mullin(R-Okla.) Lisa Murkowski(R-Alaska) Alex Padilla(D-Calif.) Gary Peters(D-Mich.) Jack Reed(D-R.I.) Pete Ricketts(R-Neb.) Jim Risch(R-Idaho) Jacky Rosen(D-Nev.) Mike Rounds(R-S.D.) Adam Schiff(D-Calif) Eric Schmitt(D-Mo) Rick Scott(R-Fla) Tim Scott(R-S.C) Jeanne Shaheen(D.N.H) Tim Sheehy(R-Mont) Elissa Slotkin(D.Mich) Tina Smith(D.Minn) Dan Sullivan( R-Alaska )John Thune( R-S.D )Thom Tillis( R.N.D )Tommy Tuberville( R-Ala )Elizabeth Warren( D-Mass )Peter Welch( D-Vt )Sheldon Whitehouse( D-R.I ), and Roger Wicker( R-Miss ).
A similar measure was introduced earlier this year in the House of Representatives by Congressman Pete Stauber and also passed without opposition.
The full text of this legislation is available here.
