Assemblyman Robert Smullen (R,C,I,SAM – Meco) today called on the Biden administration to officially designate the country of Kenya as a combat zone in order to prevent the unjust taxation of New York’s combat soldiers stationed there as part of the famous “Fighting 69^th” Infantry. Under current regulations, military members are exempt from federal, state, and local taxes while serving abroad in designated combat zones.

“Hundreds of New York’s bravest men and women are halfway across the globe fighting terrorism and defending our freedoms, and we need to correct this injustice immediately to place them under the same protections as all of our other courageous soldiers,” Smullen said. “I am calling on the Biden administration to designate Kenya as a combat zone without delay so that our nation’s heroes receive the tax benefits they are entitled to.”

The Army National Guard deployed roughly 1,000 soldiers to the horn of Africa in September in an effort to defeat the al-Qaeda-allied Al Shabaab terror group, who are waging attacks against Americans.