NEWARK -- Gov. Chris Christie blasted Texas Republican lawmakers Monday for being "hypocrites" over their urgent request to President Donald Trump for federal disaster relief in the wake of Hurricane Harvey devastating portions of the state.

The governor lashed out at Texas's congressional delegation for their part in opposing relief aid to New Jerseyans after Hurricane Sandy wreaked havoc here in 2012. At the same time, Christie urged New Jersey's congressional delegation to swiftly approve any requests for emergency relief as millions in Texas continue to get battered by the storm and its subsequent flooding.

"We were the disaster that was the longest, in waiting in terms of getting federal, aid and I hope that that's not what happens to the folks in Texas with Harvey," Christie said at a public event in Newark.

He was asked by a reporter if he thought Texas's federal lawmakers -- like Republican U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz and John Cornyn, who asked Trump Friday for a major disaster declaration -- were hypocrites for opposing New Jersey's requests after Sandy.

"Absolutely. Sure," Christie, a Republican, said. "The congressional members in Texas are hypocrites and I said back in 2012 that they'd be proven to be hypocrites. It was just a matter of time."

Christie added: "When you're a state that has any kind of coastal exposure like Texas does to the gulf, you're going to wind up having some type of disaster that's going to ... (harm) the people of your state. Then all of a sudden, you're not gonna want a conversation of the philosophical niceties cause people are suffering and dying."

Nearly all of Texas's congressional delegation opposed Sandy aid relief. All but three of the people who opposed the measures are still in office.

The only exceptions were among Texas's Democrats and GOP Rep. John Culberson, who represents Texas's 7th Congressional District, which includes areas of western Houston, one of the cities hit hardest by Harvey.

Christie lashed out at GOP leadership in the House of Representatives in 2013 after they delayed aid to the state. He said they demonstrated "callous indifference."

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