After several national reports exposed a series of collection efforts for the overpayment of National Guard enlistment bonuses, Congressman Steve Knight called on Uncle Sam to end collection efforts.

Thousands of members of California’s National Guard were given improper bonuses, and the person in charge of giving out those bonuses illegally was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison, according to an LA Times report.

At the height of the malfeasance, between 2006-08, more than 10,000 California National Guard soldiers received overpayment or incentives they were ineligible for, according to the federal government.

However, in the letter to the Secretary of Defense that Knight co-authored, he said he was “dismayed” that soldiers are being asked “to repay what was promised to them in exchange for their honorable service.”

“We write to you with grave concern regarding Department of Defense efforts to recover decade-old reenlistment bonuses paid to thousands of California Army National Guard soldiers,” the letter states. “We are dismayed that our men and women who answered their country’s call to duty are now being forced to repay what was promised to them in exchange for their honorable service.”

Knight, an Army veteran who serves on the House Armed Services Committee, called the situation appalling and is working to craft an urgent solution.

“Over the weekend my team and I investigated the recent disturbing revelation that our service members are being forced to pay back the bonuses they were promised,” Knight said. “As we continue to gather information, we will fight to waive these supposed debts and assist our military and veteran community.”

Here’s the text of the letter from Knight’s office:

Dear Secretary Carter:

We write to you with grave concern regarding Department of Defense efforts to recover decade-old reenlistment bonuses paid to thousands of California Army National Guard soldiers. We are dismayed that our men and women who answered their country’s call to duty are now being forced to repay what was promised to them in exchange for their honorable service. Some have faced the threat of wage garnishments and tax liens if they refuse. This is no way to treat those who have fulfilled their commitments to their country. They should be held harmless in light of the fraud that was perpetrated upon them by overzealous recruiters.

On October 22, 2016, the Los Angeles Times reported that nearly 10,000 soldiers in the California National Guard have been ordered to repay enlistment bonuses of $15,000 or more. Many of these individuals served multiple combat tours. Wounded Iraq and Afghanistan veteran and former Army Captain Christopher Van Meter was asked to repay a $25,000 reenlistment bonus. Army Sergeant Robert Richmond, who suffered permanent injuries in Iraq due to a roadside bomb attack, was asked to repay his $15,000 reenlistment bonus. These are just two examples of the burden that our brave men and women are being asked to bear. It is unjust and this wrong must be righted.

We request that further attempts to retrieve outstanding debt be halted. We are also requesting a comprehensive briefing by the Department of Defense and the National Guard Bureau, specifically focused on what authorities the Department of Defense currently possesses to waive the repayment of these debts as well as a full accounting as to the scope of this issue nation-wide. We look forward to an immediate response. Thank you for your time and attention to this critical issue.