Overview
Title
To award 3 Congressional Gold Medals 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 ice 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.
ELI5 AI
The bill wants to give special gold medals to the 1980 U.S. Men's Ice Hockey team because they did something amazing by beating a very strong team from another country, which made many people in the U.S. really happy. These medals would be shown in places where people can see them, and others could buy copies made of a different metal to help pay for the real ones.
Summary AI
The bill, numbered S. 94, proposes to award three Congressional Gold Medals to the members of the 1980 United States Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team. This recognition is for their remarkable achievement at the XIII Olympic Winter Games, famously known as the "Miracle on Ice," where the team comprised of amateur collegiate players defeated the dominant Soviet ice hockey team. The bill details that the medals will be displayed at locations such as the Lake Placid Olympic Center, the United States Hockey Hall of Fame Museum, and the United States Olympic & Paralympic Museum. Additionally, it allows for the creation and sale of duplicate bronze medals to help cover the costs of the original gold medals.
Published
Keywords AI
Sources
Bill Statistics
Size
Language
Complexity
AnalysisAI
General Summary of the Bill
The proposed legislation, known as the "Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold Medal Act," aims to honor the 1980 United States Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team by awarding them three Congressional Gold Medals. These medals commemorate their extraordinary victory over the Soviet Union during the XIII Olympic Winter Games, often referred to as the "Miracle on Ice." This triumph, achieved by a team of amateur collegiate players, not only inspired a nation during a tumultuous period in U.S. history but also significantly influenced the growth and popularity of ice hockey within the country.
Summary of Significant Issues
Several significant issues arise from the bill. One concern is the lack of details regarding financial implications. The bill does not clarify the budget or funding source for creating these gold medals, potentially leading to questions about the efficient use of federal funds.
The authority granted in the bill for creating duplicate bronze medals does not specify a limit on their production, which could result in market saturation and devaluation. Additionally, the bill uses vague language, such as "available for research, as appropriate," without providing clear guidelines, which may lead to ambiguities concerning accessibility and use.
Finally, there is no defined oversight or accountability measures concerning the financial aspects, particularly with the use of the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund, leaving room for potential misuse.
Impact on the Public
Broadly, this bill reflects the nation's recognition and commemoration of a historic sports achievement that had a profound cultural impact at the time. By memorializing the 1980 Olympic team and its victory, the bill could potentially reignite public interest in the historical context of the event, promoting national pride and sportsmanship.
However, the public might be concerned about the efficient use of federal resources given the financial ambiguities in the bill. If the costs associated with the medals are significant, taxpayers may question whether such recognition is the best use of public funds, especially if other pressing issues are seen as more urgent.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
For stakeholders like the members of the 1980 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team and related institutions, such as the Lake Placid Olympic Center, U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Museum, and U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum, the bill holds positive significance. These stakeholders will benefit from the prestige, enhanced visibility, and increased visitor interest resulting from the legislation.
Conversely, the bill doesn't definitively address recognition for other potential organizations connected to U.S. ice hockey, which might feel overlooked. Additionally, historians or researchers looking to utilize the medals for educational purposes might face obstacles due to the unclear language regarding their accessibility.
In summary, while the bill positively seeks to honor an iconic sports moment, there are financial, logistical, and procedural issues that need to be addressed to ensure the benefits are maximized while safeguarding the efficient use of resources.
Issues
The potential financial implications of striking and awarding the gold medals are not mentioned in Section 3, raising questions about whether federal funds are being used efficiently.
Section 6 uses the vague phrase 'such amounts as may be necessary', which could lead to overspending without clear limits, potentially creating financial accountability issues.
The bill does not define criteria or a process for determining the design of the gold medals in Section 3, potentially leading to subjective or inconsistent decisions by the Secretary of the Treasury.
Section 4 allows for the production and sale of duplicate bronze medals but does not specify a limit on the number of duplicates, which could lead to overproduction and impact market value.
The phrase 'available for research, as appropriate' in Section 3 is vague and may cause issues regarding the accessibility and use of the awarded medals for research purposes.
There is a lack of oversight or accountability measures in Section 6 for the use of the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund, increasing the risk of potential misuse of funds.
The bill does not specify what the medals are commemorating or the purpose behind their creation in Section 5, leading to ambiguities regarding their significance or necessity.
Sections
Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.
1. Short title Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section provides the official name of the bill, which is called the “Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold Medal Act.”
2. Findings Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
Congress acknowledges the remarkable achievement of the 1980 United States Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team, which, against the odds, defeated the Soviet Union and won the gold medal during a challenging period for the nation. This victory, famously known as the "Miracle on Ice," not only captivated millions of viewers but also significantly boosted ice hockey's popularity in the U.S. and paved the way for increased American participation in the National Hockey League.
3. Congressional gold medals Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The bill section authorizes the Speaker of the House and the President pro tempore of the Senate to arrange the awarding of three Congressional gold medals to the 1980 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team for their remarkable victory against the Soviet Union in the "Miracle on Ice." The medals will be designed by the Secretary of the Treasury and will be distributed 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.
4. Duplicate medals Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The Secretary has the authority to make and sell bronze replicas of the gold medals made under a previous section. These replicas will be sold at a price that covers all production costs, including labor, materials, and other related expenses.
5. Status of medals Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
Medals created under this Act are recognized as national medals according to U.S. law, specifically chapter 51 of title 31. Additionally, for specific legal sections (5134 and 5136 of title 31), these medals are considered to be collectible or numismatic items.
6. Authority to use fund amounts; proceeds of sale Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section outlines that the U.S. Mint is allowed to use funds from its Public Enterprise Fund to cover the cost of creating medals as specified in the Act. Additionally, any money earned from selling duplicate bronze medals must also be added back into this fund.