'Americans refuse to be terrorized,' Obama says in weekly address

President Obama used his weekly address to recount acts of heroism and generosity in response to this week’s Boston Marathon bombing, declaring that the nation’s spirit will not be shaken.

Three people – including an eight-year-old boy – were killed and more than 100 were injured when metal from the blast ripped through a crowd of people gathered near the race’s finish line on Monday.

The following days saw more bloodshed as a campus security officer was killed, along with one of the suspects, during a tense manhunt that put the entire Boston area on lockdown.

“But in the days since, the world has witnessed one sure and steadfast truth: Americans refuse to be terrorized,” Obama said. “Ultimately, that’s what we’ll remember from this week. That’s what will remain. Stories of heroism and kindness; resolve and resilience; generosity and love.”

The president lauded the actions of police officers, emergency medical technicians and the national guard, who “ran toward danger” to help the injured. Also helping, Obama recounted, were race volunteers, spectators and exhausted runners, some of whom reportedly continued running to the hospital to donate blood for the victims.

He said the United States’ reaction to attacks upon its own is part of what defines the nation.

“If anyone wants to know who we are; what America is; how we respond to evil and terror – that’s it,” he said. “Selflessly. Compassionately. And unafraid."

Obama offered a public thanks to law enforcement and federal authorities called upon to investigate the crimes. A manhunt appeared to end late Friday, when a man believed to be Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, 19, was taken into custody after a standoff in Boston’s Watertown neighborhood.

His older brother, Tamerlan Tsarnaev, 26, died after being hit numerous times during a pre-dawn firefight with police.

“As a country, we are eternally grateful for the profound sacrifices they make in the line of duty – sometimes making the ultimate sacrifice to defend the people they’ve sworn to protect,” Obama said.

It was a busy week for the law enforcement community, which was also called upon to track the suspect now in custody for sending a series of poison-laced letters to Obama and Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.).

Paul Kevin Curtis of Corinth, Miss., faces as many as 15 years in prison, following his Wednesday arrest.

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House Republicans Refuse To Hold A Vote On Hurricane Sandy Relief

After finally passing the Senate’s bill to narrowly avoid the fiscal cliff late Tuesday evening, Republicans put an end to the do-nothing 112th Congress by refusing to hold a vote on Hurricane Sandy disaster relief funding.

Late last week, the Senate passed a $60 billion relief package with the help of several Republicans, but Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) did not even take up the bill. On Wednesday morning, Boehner’s office told The Hill that the Speaker intends to pass a relief bill in the new Congress later this month, but the delay means that the Senate will have to draft and pass an entirely new bill for the 113th Congress.

A parade of congressmen from the impacted region raised strong objections on the House floor, including several Republicans. “Mr. Speaker, tonight’s action not to hold this vote on the supplemental is absolutely indefensible,” said Rep. Peter King (R-NY), whose Long Island district was among the most heavily impacted by the storm. “Everybody played by the rules, except tonight when the rope is pulled out from under us. Absolutely inexcusable, absolutely indefensible. We have a moral obligation to hold this vote.”

Watch it:

Hurricane Sandy caused an estimated $78.7 billion in damage across New York and New Jersey alone when it made landfall in late October. In the last few years, House Republicans have embraced the practice of holding disaster relief hostage in exchange for Democratic concessions on spending cuts, but in each instance they have ultimately backed down and passed relief aid.

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