Defending Our Daughters: Make the Promise

January 7, 2026

HARRISBURG – Continuing her advocacy for fairness in women’s sports, Rep. Donna Scheuren (R-Montgomery) is inviting people to join the “Defending Our Daughters” campaign to show support for the Commonwealth’s female athletes.

All Pennsylvanians are invited to sign the “I Believe” promise to highlight the rights of girls to have a safe, fair and equal playing field; to compete to win games, championships and titles; to earn scholarships; and to have private locker rooms spaces, without males being present.

The promise also reinforces the shared responsibility of all Pennsylvanians, and specifically the state’s leaders, to get off the sidelines to protect and defend female athletes.

“Every young woman in Pennsylvania deserves the right to compete on a fair playing field. The Defending Our Daughters initiative is about protecting opportunities, safety, and privacy for female athletes across our Commonwealth,” said Scheuren. “This is not a partisan issue. Rather, it’s about common sense and fairness. I stand with my colleagues in supporting legislation that ensures girls’ sports remain for our young women, defending the integrity of competition and the promise of Title IX for generations to come. I invite all of you to make the promise and stand with us on this critical issue.”

The “I Believe” promise is available online for people to sign at defendingdaughters.com. Hard copies are also available in Scheuren’s offices, located at 1885 Swamp Pike, Gilbertsville or 418 Main Street, Harleysville. The information will be shared with Gov. Josh Shapiro and House leaders to support action on the issue this year.

So far this session, majority House Democrats have avoided votes on three different bills aimed at protecting women’s sports. Senate Bill 9, which passed the Senate with bipartisan support in May, was initially – and appropriately – referred to the House Education Committee. To avoid a discharge resolution, the bill was re-referred to the Health Committee and is now in the Judiciary Committee. House Bills 158 and 1849 were also initially referred to the Education Committee but were re-referred to Judiciary in December, also to avoid discharge resolutions that would force a vote on the bills.

Representative Donna Scheuren
147th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Joe Szymanski
jszymanski@pahousegop.com
RepScheuren.com / Facebook.com/RepScheuren/