Women have made significant gains in the workplace in recent decades, but you wouldn’t know it by looking at their paychecks.  For every dollar paid to men in the United States, women earn just about 75 cents. The gap is even wider for female minorities.

This disparity, which affects women at all income and education levels, is profoundly discriminating – and it doesn’t just hurt women, it hurts their families, too.

On this National Pay Equity Day, my colleagues and I are taking a stand.  We are introducing two bills to make wages fairer across America.  Together, these bills will provide more tools to prevent wage discrimination on the basis of sex, race or national origin; close loopholes that allow employers to pay unequal wages; and stop employers from retaliating against workers who seek information on wages.

Last year, we came close to passing a paycheck fairness bill, but it was blocked in the Senate by just two votes.  This time, my colleagues and I are determined to get the job done.

We are fortunate to have a strong ally in President Obama, the father of two daughters, who has promised to keep fighting for paycheck fairness.  The President’s commitment couldn’t be clearer. One of his first acts in office was signing the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, a law that offers stronger legal protections for women who’ve suffered pay discrimination.

But there is still much work to be done.

Nationally, the average man makes about $10,000 more each year than the average woman, according to the National Partnership for Women and Families. In New Jersey, my home state, the wage gap is $13,500.  This disparity is disgraceful.

As my colleagues and I officially restart our work today to pass these bills and make wages fairer, we’re counting on women to raise their voices in support.  Together, we can make pay day fairer for all Americans.