KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- U.S. Rep. Sam Graves says payday loan stores may be hurting the military.

Graves held a hearing in Kansas City Tuesday.

"These young men and women in the service end up being perfect targets," Graves said.

KMBC's Micheal Mahoney reported that payday loan offices are a common sight near military bases. Missouri has two big military bases: Whiteman Air Force Base and Fort Leonard Wood. Missouri has the fifth most payday loan businesses in the nation. Mahoney said the companies offer quick cash but charge interest by the week or month that can quickly add up.

"And it seriously imperils the focus of military people both home and away," Master Chief John Thompson said.

Critics believe the industry targets the military because many stores are located near bases. Graves is calling for a limit on the interest rates to soldiers to 36 percent a year.

"Payday advances are often more suitable for short term loans," said Darrin Anderson of QC Inc.

"You're going to make a dime a day with that interest rate and that's too little. You'll drive us out of the short-term loan business for military personnel," consultant R.S. Siegfriend said.

Graves did not seem impressed, Mahoney said.

"The guys using these loans are responsible. They think it's a good deal to pay $15 for $100," Siegfried said.

"You know, I think if you want to talk about responsibility, you ought to look to your industry," Graves said.

Mahoney reported that this was not the first time Congress has tackled the problem of payday loan rates for soldiers. Three other efforts to put limits on the interest rates for people in the military failed to pass.