WASHINGTON — House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) called on lawmakers and activists who argue that fossil fuels are “immoral” to “stop using them today.”

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii), a 2020 Democratic presidential candidate, proposed a bill in 2017 that would outlaw the sale of gasoline-powered vehicles within the U.S. beginning in 2035. Members of Congress such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) have called for the end of fossil fuel production in America.

Scalise was asked if he would support banning the sale of gasoline or diesel-powered vehicles in the U.S. by a certain date.

“No, and in fact, I would suggest that people who say fossil fuels are immoral, I disagree with them, first of all. I think fossil fuels help save lives, help lower costs, help create jobs and help people have a higher standard of living in America. But if they truly think fossil fuels are immoral, then stop using them today,” Scalise said on Wednesday during a press conference on Capitol Hill about the House Energy Action Team, which was formed in response to the Green New Deal.

“They should live by their rules and actually practice what they preach. It’s really ironic that the people that are telling you not to fly around on airplanes in 10 years are flying around on their own airplanes all around the country telling you to change your lifestyle but they won’t change theirs. So I think that’s the question they should be asked,” he added.

Scalise was referring to the original Green New Deal outline that mentioned building high-speed rail at “a scale where air travel stops becoming necessary” as well as retrofitting buildings across the country.