https://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/sxsw/2017-03-06/joe-biden-at-sxsw/

Joe Biden at SXSW

By Richard Whittaker, March 6, 2017, 11:00am, SXSW

Clear your SXSW schedule and start lining up now: Joe Biden, the 47th U.S. vice president, will be speaking March 12, as part of the Connect to End Cancer series of talks.

Announcing this major addition to the speaker roster, SXSW Chief Programming Officer Hugh Forrest said, “[Biden's] commitment and leadership is crucial at a time when the smartest minds from the worlds of technology and health care are working together to create groundbreaking new solutions in the battle to end cancer.”

Cancer became a top and very personal priority for Biden after the death in 2015 of his son Beau from brain cancer. One of his last big legislative pushes in the Obama administration was to help shepherd the 21st Century Cures Bill, a 10-year, $6.3 billion research funding package for his National Cancer Moonshot push.

Biden has continued his commitment since leaving office, and in January he announced he will be establishing the Biden Cancer Initiative. Expect his SXSW speech – which will be prefaced by introduction by wife Dr. Jill Biden – to fill out more details on his vision for this new nonprofit.

He joins an already packed speaker roster, including Transparent creator Jill Soloway, director Lee Daniels (Precious, The Butler), musician Kesha, multi-platinum-selling country star Garth Brooks, Texas Competes managing director Jessica Shortall, astronaut Buzz Aldrin, Planned Parenthood CEO Cecile Richards, legendary funk producer Nile Rodgers, and many more (including FBI Director James Comey, if he isn't busy then).

Biden's speech will be at 3:30pm, March 12 at the Austin Convention Center, and will be open to all badge holders.