Defending Our Daughters: Make the Promise

January 7, 2026

HARRISBURG – Continuing his advocacy for fairness in women’s sports, Rep. Brian Smith (R-Jefferson/Indiana) 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 safe, fair and equal competition; 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.

“The women and girls of our Commonwealth deserve an equal playing field,” Smith said. “Their safety and privacy shouldn’t be compromised for the sake of biological males feeling ‘included.’ Female athletes should compete against female athletes, and male athletes should compete against male athletes. This little piece of common sense will go a long way to ensuring a safer and more secure environment in female sports.”

The “I Believe” promise is available online for people to sign at defendingdaughters.com. If you need assistance, you can visit Smith’s district offices, located at 109 Indiana Street, Suite 3 in Punxsutawney and 82 Barnett Street in Brookville. 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 Brian Smith
66th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Jake Gillespie
717.772.9834
www.RepSmith.com/ Facebook.com/RepBrianSmith