Defending Our Daughters: Make the Promise, Says Zimmerman

January 7, 2026

HARRISBURG – Continuing his advocacy for fairness in women’s sports, Rep. Dave Zimmerman (R-Lancaster/Berks) invites residents of the 99th 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.

“I’ve consistently supported legislation that would protect our female athletes’ privacy and guarantee fair competition for them on the playing field,” Zimmerman said. “This issue is one on which an overwhelming majority of Pennsylvanians have already weighed in, and the ‘Defending Our Daughters’ campaign is the latest opportunity for them to voice their opposition to male athletes competing against women and changing alongside them in locker rooms.”

The “I Believe” promise is available online for people to sign at defendingdaughters.com. Hard copies are also available in Zimmerman’s district office, located at 2800 North Reading Road, Reinholds. 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 Dave Zimmerman
99th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Scott Little
717-260-6137
slittle@pahousegop.com
RepZimmerman.com / Facebook.com/RepZimmerman