Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff of Georgia is facing scrutiny over a 2022 vote against a proposal limiting federal maternal and infant program resources to biological females as he campaigns on maternity care.
The Daily Wire highlighted the vote in June. During Senate consideration of the Inflation Reduction Act, then-Republican Florida Sen. Marco Rubio moved to return the bill to the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee with instructions to define “pregnancy” and restrict maternal and infant-related resources to biological females.
The Senate roll call shows the motion failed 50-50. Every Republican voted yes; every Democrat and both independents voted no, including Ossoff and Democratic Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock.
Rubio argued only biological females can become pregnant and federal law should reflect that fact. Democratic Washington Sen. Patty Murray called it a procedural attempt to derail the larger tax, climate and health package and criticized Republicans over abortion restrictions.
It was not a standalone maternity-care bill. The motion would have sent the broader legislation back to committee for three days rather than immediately changing eligibility. Ossoff did not respond to the Daily Wire’s request for comment.
The vote is resurfacing as Ossoff intensifies his maternal-health message. He recently urged federal officials to fix inaccurate Medicaid provider directories for pregnant women. Last year, he blamed Medicaid cuts after St. Mary’s Sacred Heart Hospital closed its Lavonia labor and delivery unit. The hospital said physician shortages, changing demographics and outmigration were the primary drivers, while recent Medicaid cuts solidified the decision.
The vote gives Republicans an opening to question whether Ossoff’s women-focused rhetoric matches his position on sex-based definitions. The dispute adds a cultural-policy contrast to his November race against Republican Rep. Mike Collins.
