Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Why America Doesn’t Have the Third Party They Want Ocasio-Cortez Asks for Full Investigation into Cuomo’s Treatment of Coronavirus in Nursing Homes Ocasio-Cortez Raises Millions for Texas Relief, Plans More to Houston (DN.Y.) raised about $ 4.7 million in aid funding for Texas, CNN report on Sunday.
Ocasio-Cortez began her fundraiser Thursday after icy temperatures took over Texas and left millions without power or clean water. Her press secretary, Ivet Contreras, confirmed to CNN that nearly $ 5 million had been raised since Sunday night.
CNN noted that this is Ocasio-Cortez’s first major fundraising effort and disaster visit, in addition to efforts regarding the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
“Our first major relief effort was last year when COVID struck, so we were able to build a disaster relief and fundraising campaign, and we cut teeth on it with COVID, but it was in our home district. So we mobilized for the relief of the Hurricane Maria, but that was before I was elected to Congress, “Ocasio-Cortez told CNN. “I think it’s just something we need to be able to do when there’s an area in our country that is in need.”
Houston Public Media reported that the funds raised by Ocasio-Cortez will go to the Houston Food Bank, Family Eldercare, Feeding Texas, the Bridge Homeless Recovery Center and Corazon Ministries, among others.
The congresswoman visited Texas on Saturday and helped distribute food at the Houston Food Bank and visit a home affected by the winter storm, CNN reported.
“It’s one thing to read what’s going on, but another thing to see the damage to ourselves,” Ocasio-Cortez said. “The message in Washington is that we do not allow people to get caught up in a bunch of red tape. Let’s try to get this help out the door as much as people need it and as fast as we can.”
Dozens of Texans died as a result of the harsh conditions caused by the falling temperatures. Criticism has been leveled at Texas’ power infrastructure, which has been largely cut off from the rest of the state. A family has filed a lawsuit against the Electricity Reliability Council of Texas in Texas on Sunday alleging that serious negligence led to the death of their 11-year-old son.