Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) announced Thursday that she has raised $1 million for Texas relief efforts and will visit the state this weekend.
“Team AOC is launching relief efforts for Texas starting today. Our first effort is a partnership w/ 5 Texas orgs getting on-the-ground relief to Texans ASAP,” Ocasio-Cortez announced Thursday afternoon, asking people to donate and noting her intentions to split the contributions among the five organizations:
Team AOC is launching relief efforts for Texas starting today.
Our first effort is a partnership w/ 5 Texas orgs getting on-the-ground relief to Texans ASAP.
If you’re able, please donate here – it’ll split your contribution to all 5.
💯% goes to them.https://t.co/TTIiNimja7
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) February 18, 2021
Nearly two hours later, the New York lawmaker announced that she had already raised “$325k for food, housing, elder care & direct relief straight to vulnerable Texans.”
“This might be a little crazy… but can we raise $1M by midnight?” she asked:
Holy smokes.
Our Texas relief mobilization has already raised $325k for food, housing, elder care & direct relief straight to vulnerable Texans.
This might be a little crazy… but can we raise $1M by midnight?
💯% goes to Feeding Texas, ECHO & more: https://t.co/TTIiNimja7 https://t.co/OO57AoLmR9
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) February 19, 2021
The organizations did reach the goal before midnight, according to Ocasio-Cortez.
“As a thank you to everyone who contributed & amplified, I’ll be going to Texas this weekend to visit w/ @LaCongresista in Houston & highlight what’s happening on the ground,” she said, announcing her trip:
Totally blown away.
$1M raised in direct relief for Texans in less than a day.
As a thank you to everyone who contributed & amplified, I’ll be going to Texas this weekend to visit w/ @LaCongresista in Houston & highlight what’s happening on the ground. https://t.co/DSkTSqfbkZ
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) February 19, 2021
Ocasio-Cortez’s fundraiser coincides with President Biden’s Thursday call to Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) to discuss the severe weather and the devastating impact it has made on millions of Texans:
Tonight, I called Governor Greg Abbott to discuss the ongoing situation in Texas and identify ways we can support the state’s recovery from this storm. I made clear to the Governor that I’ll work relentlessly to get his state what they need. pic.twitter.com/UBwH8DMep2
— President Biden (@POTUS) February 19, 2021
“President Biden conveyed his support to the people of Texas in this trying time,” the White House said of the call, adding that Biden “reiterated that the federal government will continue to work hand-in-hand with state and local authorities in Texas to bring relief and address the critical needs of the families affected.”
325,000 Texans were still without power as of Thursday, Abbott announced during a news conference.
“As of this afternoon there are no residential power outages due to lack of power generation,” Abbott said in a Thursday evening update.
“If any residence doesn’t have power it is due to downed power lines or the need for the power company to manually reconnect,” he added. “If you don’t have power contact your local power provider.”
As of this afternoon there are no residential power outages due to lack of power generation.
If any residence doesn’t have power it is due to downed power lines or the need for the power company to manually reconnect.
If you don’t have power contact your local power provider.
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) February 18, 2021
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