Congresswoman Chellie Pingree issued the following statement on the health care reform package unveiled on Capitol Hill today:
 

The health care bill introduced today takes important steps toward making quality, affordable health care available to all Americans.  It will lower costs, provide more choice and reform some of the insurance industry’s worst practices—like excluding people based on pre-existing conditions.
 
This bill includes a public option, which is essential to give consumers real choice and give the insurance companies real competition.
 
And the legislation introduced today will protect Medicare and Medicare recipients.   Nothing in this bill cuts basic Medicare benefits.  And it will close the donut hole for prescription drug prices.