Rigby Encourages Making the Promise to ‘Defend Our Daughters’

January 9, 2026

HARRISBURG – Continuing his advocacy for fairness in women’s sports, Rep. Jim Rigby (R-Cambria/Somerset) invites residents of the 71st Legislative District 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. 

“There was very little controversy more than 50 years ago when Congress passed Title IX, which ensured equality for female athletes,” said Rigby. “It was the right thing to do then and protecting opportunities for girls and women in sports is the right thing to do now. That is an opinion shared by a majority of Pennsylvanians and the ‘Defending Our Daughters’ campaign provides them with an opportunity to further demonstrate their support for a level playing field.” 

The “I Believe” promise is available online for people to sign at defendingdaughters.com. Hard copies are also available in Rigby’s district offices, located at 7447 Admiral Peary Highway, Cresson; 1021 Ferndale Ave., Johnstown; and 1914 Graham Ave., Windber.

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 Jim Rigby
71st Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Scott B. Little
717.260.6137 (office), 717.497.5967 (cell)
Slittle@pahousegop.com