John Chafee: “First, I want to say obviously this is an issue that stirs deep emotions, and I can understand fully the viewpoints of…”

“First, I want to say obviously this is an issue that stirs deep emotions, and I can understand fully the viewpoints of the major proponents of this legislation, the Senator from New Hampshire and the Senator from Massachusetts and the Senator from Arizona. Next, I would like to say that I think it is important to know who the sponsors are of this amendment. I do not think there are two more distinguished veterans of the Vietnam war than the two Senators, Senator Kerry from Massachusetts and Senator McCain from Arizona. We are familiar with their records. Not that what they say should be the total gospel but, nonetheless, the fact is that those two Senators--one a prisoner of war for a good number of years over there, the other with a very distinguished war record in the Navy in Vietnam--are the key sponsors of this resolution. It seems to me the key question we are facing up to tonight is how do we get more information, the best possible information, on those missing in action, the MIA's. It seems to me that is the central question to the debate that we are engaged in.”