Defending Our Daughters: Make the Promise

January 7, 2026

HARRISBURG – Continuing his advocacy for fairness in women’s sports, Rep. Josh Bashline (R-Clarion/Armstrong) 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.

“Female athletes deserve to feel safe and have fair opportunities in athletic competitions,” said Bashline. “Title IX was a massive victory for our country. Respecting female athletes means defending the principles that uphold a level playing field and let hard work, talent and dedication determine outcomes. Now is the time to act, and I hope residents in Clarion and Armstrong counties will join me in this fight.”

The “I Believe” promise is available online for people to sign at defendingdaughters.com. Hard copies are also available in his Clarion district office, located at 160 South 2nd Ave., Suite C, as well as his Kittanning district office at 200 N. Jefferson St. 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 Josh Bashline
63rd Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Nate Temple
717-260-6396
ntemple@pahousegop.com
https://www.repbashline.com/ https://www.facebook.com/repbashline