Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) on Thursday compared the Trump administration's push for a resurgence in the coal industry to belief in the Easter Bunny.

"If you believe in the Easter Bunny, 35mm film & typewriters, then you will also believe coal can come back," Lieu tweeted with a link to an article on Democrats opposing Energy Secretary Rick Perry Rick PerryOVERNIGHT ENERGY: Democrats push resolution to battle climate change, sluggish economy and racial injustice | Senators reach compromise on greenhouse gas amendment stalling energy bill | Trump courts Florida voters with offshore drilling moratorium OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Trump signs major conservation bill into law | Senate votes to confirm Energy's No. 2 official | Trump Jr. expresses opposition to Pebble Mine project Senate votes to confirm Energy's No. 2 official MORE's plan to reward coal and nuclear power plants for contributing to the U.S. energy grid.

If you believe in the Easter Bunny, 35mm film & typewriters, then you will also believe coal can come back. https://t.co/cjIboS5SM6 — Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) October 12, 2017

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Perry defended the plan to a House energy subcommittee, claiming that coal and nuclear energy are more reliable than renewable sources such as wind and solar power.

Democrats on the panel slammed the proposal, saying the administration was making the claim that the energy grid faces reliability issues as an excuse to compensate coal and nuclear plants.

Lieu is a vocal advocate for environmental causes, with his first bill in Congress aimed at investing in sustainable energy technologies and decreasing carbon emissions.

The Trump administration has put an emphasis on the coal and nuclear power industries, with President Trump pitching himself on the campaign trail as a champion for coal workers.