Ruppersberger Issues Statement on National Guard Members Repaying Enlistment Bonuses

(Washington, DC) —Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger today issued the following statement on requiring California National Guard service members to repay enlistment bonuses and other incentives:
 
“I am requesting immediate action to halt the repayment of enlistment bonuses and other incentives given to some members of the California National Guard, many of them a decade after volunteering to go to war. When our men and women in uniform enlist and re-enlist in our Armed Services, they are making a commitment to our country. We must keep our commitment to them in return.

Today, I joined colleagues in the House of Representatives in sending a bipartisan letter to the Secretary of Defense that:

1.    Requests that recoupment efforts be halted immediately;
2.    Requests the Secretary report to Congress if he needs additional authorities to do so;
3.    Requests information on any ongoing and completed recoupments so that Congress can determine the full scope of the issue.

If the Department of Defense requires a blanket waiver authority to provide relief to these service members and their families, Congress should act to provide one. I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to ensure our service men and women are treated fairly.

It is my understanding that overpayments of this scale are limited to California, where one employee was imprisoned for fraudulently approving payment of enlistment bonuses. The National Guard has already implemented a program to prevent this again.”