The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Childhood Cancer Survivorship, Treatment, Access and Research (STAR) Reauthorization Act Friday, which is meant to expand opportunities for childhood cancer research, improve efforts to identify and track childhood cancer incidences and enhance quality of life for childhood cancer survivors.

A Friday news release from the office of U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, R-16th, who co-chairs the Childhood Cancer Caucus, said he introduced the act, along with Representatives Michael McCaul (R-Texas), G.K. Butterfield (D-N.C.) and Jackie Speier (D-Calif.).

The STAR Act was first introduced in 2015 and it was signed into law in 2018. According to Kelly’s news release, the reauthorization act of 2022 will allow programs included in the STAR Act to continue for the next five years.

“Children are 25% of our population, but they are 100% of our future,” Kelly said. “It’s our duty to fund the research that will protect them in their most vulnerable moments and to ultimately find a cure. I’m grateful that Congress is prioritizing this research and will reauthorize the STAR Act.”