Obama Signs Bill Providing $1 Billion for Prevention and Treatment of Opioid Addiction

President Obama this week signed into law the 21st Century Cures Act, which includes $1 billion in new funding to prevent and treat opioid addiction. The Senate approved the measure last week.

The legislation includes funding for cancer research and mental health treatment, USA Today reports. It will help the Food and Drug Administration speed up drug approvals. The measure also aims to improve the use of technology in medicine.

“We are bringing to reality the possibility of new breakthroughs to some of the biggest health challenges of our time,” Obama said at the bill signing. “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.”