Frank Lautenberg: “what we have just seen is a vote on the constitutionality question which ought not be the primary point. The question is…”

“what we have just seen is a vote on the constitutionality question which ought not be the primary point. The question is whether the American people can see pictures of those flag-draped coffins in tribute to those who gave their lives in service to their country. President Reagan, in 1993, understood it clearly. He publicly received the bodies of 241 marines who were killed, and there were photographs galore. And during the Afghanistan war, during this administration, flag-draped coffins were filmed. And during the Kosovo conflict, President Clinton was on the tarmac to receive those dead. But this requirement, this directive requiring strict censorship issued just as the Iraq war began prevents the American people from seeing the truth about what is happening. I urge my colleagues to face their constituents back home and tell them it was not appropriate for the media to photograph coffins, flags on top, in tribute in Dover, DE. It is an outrage to permit that to continue.”