Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has helped to raise $1 million in just four hours in an effort to help Texans struggling in the grip of record-breaking low temperatures.
According to Pix 11 News, the 35-year-old Democrat representative launched an appeal to help Texans in desperate need of relief, with Arctic winds plunging the state into a severe crisis.
Cortez issued the appeal in a statement made to her 12.4 million followers on Twitter on Thursday, February 19.
In it, she wrote:
"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. 100% goes to them. [sic]"
A mere four hours later, Cortez posted a follow-up message to her followers, thanking them for their incredible influx of donations, writing:
"Wow. We officially raised $1 million for Texas relief at 9.17 pm.
"Thank you all so much. [..] I’m at a loss for words. Always in awe of movement work.
"100% of this relief is going straight to Texan food assistance, homelessness relief, elder care, and more."
Cortez has also criticized Texas Senator Ted Cruz for flying to Cancun and seemingly abandoning his constituents in the midst of the crisis, writing in a separate tweet:
"If Sen. Cruz had resigned back in January after helping gin up a violent insurrection that killed several people, he could've taken his vacation in peace. Texans should continue to demand his resignation. [sic]"
According to Sky News, 50-year-old Cruz has since returned from his trip abroad after facing harsh backlash over his decision to travel during a state emergency.
Per Sky, Cruz defended his decision to go by claiming that his daughters pressured him into it, stating: "Look, it was obviously a mistake, and in hindsight, I wouldn't have done it.
"I was trying to be a dad. And all of us have made decisions.
"When you've got two girls who have been cold for two days and haven't had heat or power, and they're saying: 'Hey, look, we don't have school, why don't we go, let's get out of here' - I think there are a lot of parents that'd be like: 'All right, if I can do this, great'
Cruz continued: "Really, from the moment I sat on the plane, I began second-guessing that decision and saying: 'Look, I know why we're doing this, but I've also got responsibilities.'
"It had been my intention to be able to work remotely, to be on the phone, to be on the internet, to be on Zoom, to be engaged. But I needed to be here. And that's why I came back."
According to The Guardian, arctic storms that have swept across large parts of the central and southern United States have brought record-breaking cold temperatures, with more than 4 million homes and businesses left without power on Tuesday, February 16.
Meanwhile, The Independent reports that at least 24 Texans have lost their lives as a result of the extreme weather, as of the time of writing.