Cruz: ‘We have a crisis on the ground’ in Texas

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz (R) said Wednesday that he is focused on saving lives in his home state, describing conditions in the wake of Tropical Storm Harvey as “a crisis on the ground.”

“We have a crisis on the ground of people who are hurting right now,” Cruz told “Fox & Friends.” “People who are in harm’s way, whose lives and families are in jeopardy as we speak.”

{mosads}Cruz said he has been working to coordinate relief efforts in Houston and is focused on “saving the lives that are being threatened.”

“I think we can fully expect that Congress will step up in a serious way to meet what is going to be an enormous need,” Cruz added, noting it will be a “long process” to rebuild after the storm.

“There is a time in the process where you work on rebuilding, but the first priority has to be saving lives.”

Cruz and fellow Texas Sen. John Cornyn (R) have recently come under scrutiny over their votes against an aid package for people affected by Superstorm Sandy, which hit New Jersey in 2012. The senators at the time argued that the legislation included wasteful spending.