Gleim’s Advocacy Silenced by Democrat Leadership on Women in Sports Bill

September 29, 2026

HARRISBURG - For the 16th time this session, House Democrat leadership has instructed a committee chairmen to rerefer a piece of legislation designed to prevent men from participating in women’s sports. In addition, Speaker of the House Joanna McClinton refused to recognize a request made by Rep. Barb Gleim (R-Cumberland), who wanted to announce a discharge resolution on Senate Bill 1293, which would require schools to designate athletic teams as male, female or co-ed.

“Women and girls deserve fair athletic competition and House members deserve the opportunity to vote on this legislation,” Gleim said. “I wanted to file the discharge resolution so the voices of 8 out of 10 Pennsylvanians would be heard; however, those voices can’t be represented when House rules are violated and committee chairs pass around legislation for two years.”

The House Democrat majority has repeatedly declined to allow women’s sports legislation to be considered in the House chamber. Senate Bill 9 and House Bills 158 and 1849 have each been moved repeatedly among House committees without a final vote being taken. All four bills now reside in the Health Committee after two years of rereferrals.

Gleim’s discharge resolution would have begun the process of removing Senate Bill 1293 from committee and bringing it before the full House for a vote. Instead, House Education Committee Chairman Pete Schweyer chose to bring the bill up in committee and again rerefer it with no explanation.

“This latest ‘episode’ is even more egregious because the committee chairman refused to allow full discussion prior to the vote to rerefer the bill,” added Gleim. “We are sent here to speak on behalf of our constituents, whose overwhelming desire to keep men out of women’s sports in Pennsylvania continues to be muted.”

Representative Barb Gleim
199th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Scott Little
717-260-6137
slittle@pahousegop.com
RepGleim.com / Facebook.com/RepGleim