California's newest member of Congress is proposing a new national speed limit of 60 miles per hour.

It's the first bill introduced by Democratic Congresswoman Jackie Speier of Northern California, who was sworn in to replace the late Tom Lantos in April.

Speier's proposal, announced Thursday, is meant to help combat high gas prices. Cars burn more fuel the faster they go.

 "Americans need relief from the rising cost of gasoline now," Rep. Speier said.

"There is no need to wait for OPEC or the oil companies to help us out.  Every driver can affect change simply by easing up on their right foot," Speir said. 

Congress set a national speed limit of 55 mph in 1974 because of energy shortages, but it was repealed in 1995.

Others have been coming up with the same idea recently. An influential Republican senator, John Warner of Virginia, asked the Energy Department to look into it earlier this month.