Obama signs $6.3 billion law for cancer research, drug treatment

President Obama signs the 21st Century Cures Act Tuesdayin the South Court Auditorium in the Eisenhower Executive Office Buildingin Washington. (Photo: Pablo Martinez Monsivais, AP)

WASHINGTON — President Obama signed a $6.3 billion bill to fund drug treatment, a precision medicine initiative and Vice President Biden's signature effort to "end cancer as we know it."

In an emotional bill signing ceremony — likely the last one of this presidency — Obama signed the 21st Century Cures Act in a White House auditorium. The signing brought full circle Obama's State of the Union challenge to Congress to "surprise the cynics" by tackling some of the biggest health priorities facing the country.

"We are bringing to reality the possibility of new breakthroughs to some of the biggest health challenges of our time," Obama said.

"We're tackling cancer, brain disease, substance abuse disorders and more, and none of this would have been possible without bipartisan cooperation from both houses of Congress," he said, thanking a delegation from Capitol Hill. The bill passed the House of Representatives 392 to 26 and the Senate 94 to 5.

USA TODAY

For Obama, fewer bill-signing ceremonies reflect years of gridlock

The bill was a personal project for Biden. The section of the bill allocating $1.8 billion in cancer research funding was named for his son, Beau, whose death from brain cancer in 2015 inspired what the White House called its "Cancer Moonshot."

"This bill will literally save lives," said a somber Biden. "Just its mere signing, Mr. President, as you know better than I, gives millions of Americans hope."

In addition to the added funding, Biden said that the bill would "fundamentally change the culture of our fight against cancer" by adding a sense of urgency to the effort.

USA TODAY

Joe Biden delivers cancer 'moonshot' recommendations

The bill also authorized $1.5 billion for a brain research initiative, $1.4 billion for precision medicine, and $1 billion for substance abuse treatment targeting heroin and opioid addiction.

Obama was introduced by David Grubb, a former West Virginia state senator who told first met the president in Charleston last year, telling him the story of his daughter Jessie's battle with heroin addiction. She was in recovery then, and Grubb was optimistic.

But Jessie died this March after being given painkillers following a surgery.

"When I first met them in Charleston, their story was unfortunately more common than we would have liked," Obama said. "I think it reflects the power of this issue and how deeply it affects every family in America."

"This is an epidemic that can touch anybody — blue collar, white collar, college students, retirees, kids, moms, dads," Obama said.

Facebook Twitter Google+ LinkedIn

President Obama's final weeks in office

 Fullscreen

Post to Facebook

Posted!

A link has been posted to your Facebook feed.

Obama embraces Biden after signing the 21st Century Cures Act on Dec. 13, 2016, in the South Court Auditorium in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building.  Carolyn Kaster, AP

Fullscreen

President Obama greets service members after speaking on counterterrorism at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa on Dec. 6, 2016.  Mandel Ngan, AFP/Getty Images

Fullscreen

The Obamas attend the Kennedy Center Honors on Dec. 4, 2016, in Washington.  Aude Guerrucci, Pool, Getty Images

Fullscreen

Obama shakes hands with United Nations Secretary-General-designate Antonio Guterres in the Oval Office on Dec. 2, 2016.  Carolyn Kaster, AP

Fullscreen

Obama speaks at the National Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony on the Ellipse on Dec. 1, 2016.  Ron Sachs, Pool/European Pressphoto Agency

Fullscreen

Obama meets with the 2016 American Nobel Prize laureates in the Oval Office on Nov. 30, 2016.  Andrew Harrer / POOL, EPA

Fullscreen

Obama walks to the Oval Office after arriving at the White House on Nov. 29, 2016.  Zach Gibson, AFP/Getty Images

Fullscreen

Obama departs the White House for a round of golf at Joint Base Andrews on Nov. 25, 2016, in Washington.  Ron Sachs, Pool, Getty Images

Fullscreen

Obama, with his nephews Aaron Robinson, front, and Austin Robinson and National Turkey Federation Chairman John Reicks, pardons the National Thanksgiving Turkey, Tot, on Nov. 23, 2016, during a ceremony in the Rose Garden.  Manuel Balce Ceneta, AP

Fullscreen

The Obamas serve Thanksgiving dinner to residents at the Armed Forces Retirement Home on Nov. 23, 2016, in Washington.  Shawn Thew, Pool, Getty Images

Fullscreen

Obama presents actress and comedian Ellen DeGeneres with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, during a ceremony honoring 21 recipients in the East Room of the White House on Nov. 22, 2016.  Saul Loeb, AFP/Getty Images

Fullscreen

Obama salutes as he walks off Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House on Nov. 21, 2016, as he returned from his final trip to Europe as U.S. president.  Pool, Getty Images

Fullscreen

Obama speaks during a press conference at the end of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in Lima, Peru, on Nov. 20, 2016.  Ernesto Arias, European Pressphoto Agency

Fullscreen

German Chancellor Angela Merkel welcomes Obama to Berlin on Nov. 18, 2016.  Bernd Von Jutrczenka, European Pressphoto Agency

Fullscreen

Obama speaks at a town hall with Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative in Lima, Peru, on Nov. 19, 2016.  Pablo Martinez Monsivais, AP

Fullscreen

Obama boards Air Force One during a refueling stop on Nov. 18, 2016, at Lajes Field in Praia da Vitoria on the Portuguese islands of Azores.  Brendan Smialowski, AFP/Getty Images

Fullscreen

Obama walks with Professor Dimitrios Pandermalis, president of the Acropolis Museum, during a tour of the Acropolis Museum on Nov. 16, 2016, in Athens, Greece.  BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI, AFP/Getty Images

Fullscreen

Obama answers questions from journalists during his first post-election press conference in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House on Nov. 14, 2016.  Chip Somodevilla, Getty Images

Fullscreen

Obama participates in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va., to commemorate Veterans Day on Nov. 11, 2016.  Yuri Gripas, AFP/Getty Images

Fullscreen

Obama shakes hands with President-elect Donald Trump following a meeting in the Oval Office on Nov. 10, 2016.  Win McNamee, Getty Images

Fullscreen

Obama and Biden prepare to speak to the media about Donald Trump's victory over Hillary Clinton for the presidency in the Rose Garden on Nov. 9, 2016.  Jim Lo Scalzo, European Pressphoto Agency

Fullscreen

Obama and Clinton wave to the crowd during an election eve rally on Nov. 7, 2016, in Philadelphia.  Spencer Platt, Getty Images

Fullscreen

Obama walks to greet well-wishers upon arrival in Portsmouth, N.H., on Nov. 7, 2016, to campaign for Hillary Clinton in nearby Durham.  NICHOLAS KAMM, AFP/Getty Images

Fullscreen

Obama speaks at PNC Music Pavilion in Charlotte, N.C., on Nov. 4, 2016, during a Clinton campaign rally.  Pablo Martinez Monsivais, AP

Fullscreen

Obama waves as he walks to Marine One at the White House on Nov. 1, 2016, as he departs for Columbus, Ohio, to campaign for Hillary Clinton.  Nicholas Kamm, AFP/Getty Images

Fullscreen

The president and first lady dance to the beat of Michael Jackson's "Thriller" as they welcome children from Washington area and children of military families to trick-or-treat at the White House on Halloween.  Manuel Balce Ceneta, AP

Fullscreen

The president and first lady arrive at a BET event on the South Lawn of the White House on Oct. 21, 2016.  Carolyn Kaster, AP

Fullscreen

Obama and Jimmy Kimmel talk during the taping of "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" in Los Angeles on Oct. 24, 2016.  Randy Holmes, AP

Fullscreen

Obama meets with retired NASA astronaut Scott Kelly in the Oval Office on Oct. 21, 2016.  Michael Reynolds, European Pressphoto Agency

Fullscreen

The Obamas wait to greet Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and Italian First Lady Agnese Landini prior to the state dinner at the White House on Oct. 18, 2016.  Shawn Thew, European Pressphoto Agency

Fullscreen

Obama and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi leave their joint __news conference in the Rose Garden of the White House on Oct. 18, 2016.  Pablo Martinez Monsivais, AP

Fullscreen

Obama shakes hands with Benjamin Banneker Academic High School senior Ifunaya Azikiwe during his visit to the school in Washington on Oct. 17, 2016, where he highlighted the steady increase in graduation rates.  Susan Walsh, AP

Fullscreen

Obama speaks at the White House Frontiers Conference at the Jared L. Cohon Center on the campus of Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh on Oct. 13, 2016.  Jared Wickerham, AP

Fullscreen

President Obama and Vice President Biden attend a reception for Hispanic Heritage Month in the East Room of the White House on Oct. 12, 2016.  Pool, Getty Images

Fullscreen

Like this topic? You may also like these photo galleries:

Replay

• 1 of 34
• 2 of 34
• 3 of 34
• 4 of 34
• 5 of 34
• 6 of 34
• 7 of 34
• 8 of 34
• 9 of 34
• 10 of 34
• 11 of 34
• 12 of 34
• 13 of 34
• 14 of 34
• 15 of 34
• 16 of 34
• 17 of 34
• 18 of 34
• 19 of 34
• 20 of 34
• 21 of 34
• 22 of 34
• 23 of 34
• 24 of 34
• 25 of 34
• 26 of 34
• 27 of 34
• 28 of 34
• 29 of 34
• 30 of 34
• 31 of 34
• 32 of 34
• 33 of 34
• 34 of 34

Autoplay

Show Thumbnails

Show Captions

Last Slide Next Slide

65 CONNECT TWEET 2 LINKEDIN 1 COMMENT EMAIL MORE

Read or Share this story: http://usat.ly/2hC8Wgn