AOC Raises Nearly $ 5 Million in Texas Relief Efforts

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The New York Democrat kicked off her fundraiser Thursday after extreme cold, ice and snow caused the power grid run by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) to fail – resulting in blackouts and a boil water advisory for nearly half of Texas. . The fundraiser had reached $ 1 million by Thursday night. The next day, Ocasio-Cortez said the donation amount had increased to $ 2 million and she announced that she would be visiting the state.

The MP’s efforts come as Texas Senator Ted Cruz, a political opponent, faces backlash – including from members of his own party – for flying to Cancun, Mexico, last week , while many of his constituents found themselves without electricity or water. To raise funds, Ocasio-Cortez uses Act Blue, a Democratic fundraising tool, which helps her build an email distribution list when she receives donations.

On Friday, the congresswoman said she would travel to Houston to join Texas Democratic Representative Sylvia Garcia to distribute supplies. While in Texas, the progressive lawmaker and other Democrats visited food distribution centers, water distribution sites, and visited damage caused by an unprecedented storm.

Texas GOP congressman hits Cruz for trip to Cancun, says when crisis hits 'I'm not going on vacation'

Ocasio-Cortez, alongside Garcia and Texas Rep. Al Green, said on Saturday she wanted to work to help Texans after volunteering at the Houston Food Bank and visiting the home of a family affected by the winter storm.

“It’s one thing to read about what’s going on, but it’s another thing to see the damage for ourselves,” she said. “The message to Washington is not to let people get caught up in a whole lot of red tape. Let’s try to get this help out as much as people need it and as quickly as possible.”

When asked if Ocasio-Cortez has ever fundraised or visited a disaster site before, the New York MP said it was her first event outside of a response effort against the Covid-19 pandemic and relief work before being elected.

“Our first major relief effort was last year when Covid hit and so we were able to put together a disaster relief and fundraising operation and we cut our teeth with Covid, but it was in our home district, and so before that, we had mobilized for Hurricane Maria relief, but that was before I was elected to Congress, ”she said. “I think it’s just something we should be able to do whenever any part of our country is in need.”

President Joe Biden approved a major disaster declaration for Texas over the weekend, allowing the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide more resources and assistance to the Lone Star State.

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