WASHINGTON - Lawmakers on Capitol Hill are hoping to help the families of two New York City police detectives killed last year.
Congress has passed legislation allowing people to write off donations to the families of Officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos, all the way to the tax deadline.
Liu and Ramos were ambushed in their marked police car in December.
They were killed during already-high tensions between police and the community in the wake of race-fueled protests in Ferguson, Missouri.
The Slain Officer Family Support Act will allow those donating money to claim the donations on their taxes beyond the original December 31 deadline, meaning the donation is deductible as long as they donate before April 15.
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries said he hopes the bill will bring people together.
"We've got to do everything possible to heal the city," Jeffries said. "We still need to do a lot of things to improve the relationship between the police and the community, but coming together in support of the families of Detective Ramos and Detective Liu is something that all 8 million New Yorkers and the country should be able to do."
Jeffries and three other New York representatives co-sponsored the bill, including Republican Peter King.
The bill is now headed to the White House for the president's signature.