U.S. President Barack Obama has signed a $6.3 billion bill to fund cancer research, drug addiction recovery and mental health services, in what likely will be his final law signed as president.

In an emotional ceremony, Obama signed the 21st Century Cures Act in a White House auditorium. He made a point of highlighting the work of Vice President Joe Biden. The section of the bill allocating $1.8 billion in cancer research funding was named for Biden’s 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.”

The bill also authorized seven years of funding for other health-related initiatives: $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.
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