By Matt Arco | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

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A tattered U.S. flag whips in the wind in Geronimo, Texas, during Hurricane Harvey Saturday. (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP)

As Hurricane Harvey neared Texas on Friday — before it wreaked havoc on the state's eastern shore and inland — two of Texas's top Washington lawmakers, U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz and John Cornyn, sent a letter to President Donald Trump asking for a major disaster declaration.

"Given the potential catastrophic impact that the hurricane may have on Texas communities, we strongly support this request (from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott) and urge you to provide any and all emergency protective measures available," the senators wrote.

Such emergency measures include federal funding to help with rescue efforts and clean up — the exact same kind of crucial emergency relief package for New Jersey and New York following Hurricane Sandy both men voted against in 2012.

But, as some have argued, it's not as simple as that. So here's a closer look at the key players and the key issues from Sandy.

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What was the scene in 2012 and 2013?

In early 2013, only months after Sandy devastated New Jersey and the surrounding region, Gov. Chris Christie lashed out at Republicans in the House of Representatives for putting off a vote on a $60.4 billion package to finance the region's recovery.

"For me, it was disappointing and disgusting to watch," Christie said in a fiery news conference.

He lashed out at the GOP leadership's "callous indifference."

Christie complained that New Jersey and New York taxpayers contribute more than their fair share to the federal government and that the states’ congressional delegations have always been generous when it came to other states recovering from natural disasters.

The aid package was ultimately voted on and approved. But not everyone in the Republican Party supported the recovery.

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Long Beach Island residents survey damage to their property for the firs time after Hurricane Sandy destroyed their homes. An aerial photo of the Casino Pier in Seaside heights. Long Beach Island, NJ 11/9/12 (Noah K. Murray /The Star Ledger)

What were the controversial bills they voted on?

There were two bills that provided federal emergency relief for the state and region in the aftermath of Sandy.

Christie lashed out against GOP lawmakers over the $40 billion package. But prior to that, there was a $9.7 billion increase in the Federal Emergency Management Agency's ability to borrow for the National Flood Insurance Program.

The first package passed 354-67 in the House and by voice vote in the Senate.

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A woman kayaks down a flooded section of FM 518 near the intersection with Interstate 45 in League City, Texas, on Sunday. (Stuart Villanueva/The Galveston County Daily News via AP)

Who voted against among the Texas delegation?

The initial package to increase flood insurance passed the Senate without a roll call. Within the House of Representatives, eight Texas GOP lawmakers voted against the $9.7 billion increase:

— Rep. Mike Conaway

— Rep. Bill Flores

— Rep. Louie Gohmert

— Rep. Kenny Marchant

— Rep. Randy Neugebauer

— Rep. Mac Thornberry

— Rep. Randy Weber

— Rep. Roger Williams

With the exception of Neugebauer, all of the other seven Republicans are still members of Congress.

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In this Saturday photo, Layton Carpenter walks down an empty driveway in Bayside, Texas, holding a broken American flag that he found in the water after Hurricane Harvey hit Bayside, Texas. (Olivia Vanni/The Victoria Advocate via AP)

Did any Texas Republicans support N.J. aide package?

Yes, Rep. John Culberson voted to approve the package.

Culberson represents Texas's 7th Congressional District, which includes areas of western Houston, one of the cities hit hardest by Harvey.

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Long Beach Island residents survey damage to their property for the firs time after Hurricane Sandy destroyed their homes. An aerial photo of the Casino Pier in Seaside heights. (Noah K. Murray /The Star Ledger)

What was in the $60.4 billion emergency relief package?

The package included $11.5 billion for the Federal Emergency Management Agency's chief disaster relief fund and $17 billion for Community Development Block Grants, much of which would help homeowners repair or replace their homes.

Another $11.7 billion would help repair New York City's subways and other mass transit damage and protect them from future storms. Some $9.7 billion would go toward the government's flood insurance program. The Army Corps of Engineers would receive $5.3 billion to mitigate flood future risks and rebuild damaged projects.

Most of the money in the $60.4 billion bill — $47.4 billion — was for immediate help for victims and other recovery and rebuilding efforts. The aid was intended to help states rebuild public infrastructure like roads and tunnels and help thousands of people displaced from their homes.

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What they said then about relief aid

Cruz and Cornyn were among 36 Republicans who voted against the January 2013 supplemental disaster aid bill.

“Hurricane Sandy inflicted devastating damage on the East Coast, and Congress appropriately responded with hurricane relief. Unfortunately, cynical politicians in Washington could not resist loading up this relief bill with billions in new spending utterly unrelated to Sandy,” Cruz said in a January 2013 statement. “Emergency relief for the families who are suffering from this natural disaster should not be used as a Christmas tree for billions in unrelated spending, including projects such as Smithsonian repairs, upgrades to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration airplanes, and more funding for Head Start.”

Cruz called it a spending package "chock-full of pork."

Cornyn took a like-minded position.

Cornyn spokesman Drew Brandewie tweeted Friday that the senator voted against the final bill at the time because it included "extraneous $ for non-relief items."

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Was there pork?

A 2013 Congressional Research Report concluded virtually all of the disaster aid bill went to Sandy recovery. The outlier in the disaster bill was $150 million for fisheries in Alaska, Mississippi and New England where disaster declarations were made in 2012.

Other Republican lawmakers called for cuts in federal spending to offset the Sandy package.

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Behind a sign saying "Stay Strong Jersey" painted on a mattress atop a pile of garbage, Sandra Larson (left) of Point Pleasant helps her friend Laura Fucci of Mendham carry a piece of furniture damaged by Hurricane sandy floodwaters out of Laura's home on New York Avenue. Point Pleasant Beach, NJ 11/3/12 (Tony Kurdzuk/The Star-Ledger)

Did any Texas Republicans support that package?

With the exception of Culberson, all Texas Republicans in Congress at the time voted against the bill.

All but three are still in office today, according to The Dallas Morning News.

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The remnants of a badly damaged house on Front Street in Union Beach in 2012. (Aristide Economopoulos/The Star-Ledger)

Which Texans opposed it?

The remaining 23 Texas Republicans who served in Congress at the time.

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Who else of note voted against it?

Thirty-six GOP senators opposed the final emergency spending bill, including former U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions. He left his post representing Alabama in the upper chamber after President Donald Trump tapped him to serve as the state's highest law enforcement official, U.S. attorney general.

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What did N.J. politicians say at the time?

Christie: "Thirty-one days for Andrew victims. Seventeen days for victims of Gustav and Ike. Ten days for victims of Katrina. For the victims of Sandy in New Jersey, New York and Connecticut, it's been 66 days, and the wait continues."

Rep. Frank LoBiondo, R-2nd District: "Florida, good luck with no more hurricanes. California, congratulations, did you get rid of the Andreas Fault? Mississippi's in a drought. Do you think you're not going to have a flood again? Who are you going to come to when you have these things? We need this, we need it now. Do the right thing, as we have always done for you."

Rep. Frank Pallone, D-6th District: "How is it possible that this has become a political issue? I have never seen anything like it."

Rep. Bill Pascrell, D-8th District: "It's time to take the gloves off, Jersey-style."

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Warren and Denee Wehr walk to their flooded home in Smithville, Texas, Sunday (Jay Janner | Austin American-Statesman via AP)

Is Harvey the first time a GOP lawmaker flip-flopped on relief?

Nope.

And it's not even the first time Cruz and other Texas lawmakers had a change of heart on federal disaster aid since they were staunch critics of the Sandy relief.

Christie mocked Cruz and others in 2015 who had opposed federal disaster relief on principle until their home states had disasters and needed the aid.

"We've seen this, right? We have Congress people in Colorado who voted against Sandy relief and then they got floods in Colorado and they said, 'Hey, we need some relief,'" he said at a town hall in Iowa.

"We have Sen. Cruz, voted against Sandy relief," he continued, noting the recent floods that devastated Texas. "He says, 'Hey, need some help down here in Texas.'"

Christie, who hadn't yet declared a nationwide campaign, then lowered his voice in a mocking tone and said: "All of the sudden, the principle vote that I'm making here on the floor of the United States Senate is I'm not going to spend this kind of money on this kind of thing, lest it happens in my state. And if it does, it's an absolutely appropriate expenditure of money."

He added: "Now, c'mon."

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Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MatthewArco or on Facebook.

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