With the recent 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, let's look at what that court ruling offers or does not offer women today. Women now have the right to receive an abortion legally and in a safe environment.

Those in society who think women have easy access to clinics that offer family planning services are mistaken. Lawmakers have enacted barriers to abortion providers. And due to the Hyde Amendment, many women have no fiscal access.

Hyde unfairly restricts all federal insurance coverage of abortion, allowing care only in cases of rape, incest or when a woman's life is at risk.

Hyde impacts millions of women who use federal insurance programs to access health care, from low-income women using Medicaid to U.S. Armed Forces members accessing care through Tricare.

One can only imagine the heartache of those serving this country abroad while back home the pregnant spouse learns of a life-threatening birth defect and the fetus must be carried to full term because the Hyde Amendment prohibits the abortion.

Now is the time for common sense and logic to come forth and resolve to keep Roe v. Wade not only intact, but also expand the options for those under federally-funded health programs.

Larry Carrier, Sabattus