Joe Biden speaking at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center

SEATTLE -- Vice President Joe Biden is visiting Seattle on Monday to meet with researchers at Seattle's Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. The center says the vice president's visit is part of a listening tour to promote cancer research.

Biden arrived at Boeing Field around 11 a.m. and traveled up Interstate 5 for events at the Washington State Convention Center, followed by Fred Hutchinson.

Portions of I-5 could be shut down at times.

President Barack Obama has proposed spending $1 billion for a new initiative to cure cancer. Since the president's announcement during his State of the Union address in January, Biden has been visiting cancer researchers and advocates.

The vice president's son Beau died of brain cancer last year at the age of 46. Biden says his work fighting cancer will include clearing bureaucratic hurdles.