ALBANY — Assemblyman Robert Smullen, R-118, Meco, on Tuesday called on the Biden administration to officially designate the country of Kenya as a combat zone in order to prevent the taxation of New York’s combat soldiers stationed there as part of the “Fighting 69th” Infantry.

Under current regulations, military members are exempt from federal, state, and local taxes while serving abroad in designated combat zones. 

“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,” Smullen said. 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. The 118th Assembly District includes Hamilton and Fulton counties as well as parts of Herkimer, Oneida, and St. Lawrence counties.