Representative Higgins, a Republican from Louisiana, makes demeaning remarks to Raya Salter, the Executive Director of the Energy Justice Law and Policy Center during a House hearing on big oil and the climate crisis.
HIGGINS: “Everything you've got is petrochemical products. What would you do with that? Tell the world.”
SALTER: “If I had that power in the world what, actually I don't need that power because what I would do is ask you…”
HIGGINS: “I’m giving you the power.”
SALTER: “You sir, from Louisiana, to search your heart and understand why the EPA knows that toxic petrochemical facilities are some of the most toxic polluting facilities in the world and are killing black people throughout Louisiana.”
HIGGINS: “My good lady, I’m trying to give you the floor, boo. Ok, so what would you do with the products you consume?”
SALTER: “So my first thing is to ask you to search your heart and ask your God, what you are doing to the black and poor people in Louisiana. That would be my first thing to ask.”
CHAIRMAN: “Let’s just have one at a time.”
HIGGINS: “It’s my time Mr. Chairman, if I reclaim my time, I shall, I'm going to give this young lady an opportunity. You might not like it, but America needs to hear it. You've got no answer, do you young lady but what to do with petrochemical products. What are you going to do with ocean-going vessels? What do you do with the maritime industry?”
SALTER: “Well, again I would ask you to search your heart for what is happening on the coast of Louisiana.”
HIGGINS: “You have no answers for this stuff.”
SALTER: “Of course we do. We need to move away from petrochemicals. We need to shut down the petrochemical facilities in your state and move away from plastic. We need to move away from it.”
HIGGINS: “These grandiose statements. The world wouldn’t run. It’s insane. What would you do with the aviation industry?”
SALTER: “Only thing that wouldn’t function is the petrochemical industry in your state, sir.”
HIGGINS: “Do you care about the planet, good lady? Do have ecologically concern, for real? Like, from a Biblical perspective, we were, we were given, the lord gave us dominion over the planet and the creatures, they're of, now the original translations of dominion means to care for and nurture. So, from a Biblical perspective, I am an environmentalist. I love my planet, the people and the creatures they're of, do you?”
SALTER: “Sir if we're going to talk about, we're going to talk about the Lord. I ask that you search your heart again and think about repenting.”
HIGGINS: “I searched my heart very quickly. I love the the planet. Do you actually care about the planet?”
SALTER: “The fossil fuel industry that owns your state is destroying the earth and the natural world and that is a fact sir.”
HIGGINS: “You know what? You know what you got, young lady? You got a lot of noise but you got no answers. Mr. Chairman I yield.”
