Title 38Veterans' BenefitsRelease 119-73

§7803 Operation of Service

Title 38 › Part PART V— - BOARDS, ADMINISTRATIONS, AND SERVICES › Chapter CHAPTER 78— - VETERANS’ CANTEEN SERVICE › § 7803

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Service canteens must mainly serve veterans who are hospitalized or living at the facility and other veterans enrolled under section 1705. They may also serve Department staff and recognized veterans’ organization employees who work there, their families who live at the facility, and visitors.

Full Legal Text

Title 38, §7803

Veterans' Benefits — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Canteens operated by the Service shall be primarily for the use and benefit of—
(1)veterans hospitalized or domiciled at the facilities at which canteen services are provided; and
(2)other veterans who are enrolled under section 1705 of this title.
(b)Service at such canteens may also be furnished to—
(1)personnel of the Department and recognized veterans’ organizations who are employed at a facility at which canteen services are provided and to other persons so employed;
(2)the families of persons referred to in paragraph (1) who reside at the facility; and
(3)relatives and other persons while visiting a person specified in this section.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2004—Pub. L. 108–422 amended text of section generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “The canteens at hospitals and homes of the Department shall be primarily for the use and benefit of veterans hospitalized or domiciled at such hospitals and homes. Service at such canteens may also be furnished to personnel of the Department and recognized veterans’ organizations employed at such hospitals and homes and to other persons so employed, to the families of all the foregoing persons who reside at the hospital or home concerned, and to relatives and other persons while visiting any of the persons named in this section.” 1999—Pub. L. 106–117 struck out subsec. (a) designation and substituted “in this section” for “in this subsection; however, service to any person not hospitalized, domiciled, or residing at the hospital or home shall be limited to the sale of merchandise or services for consumption or use on the premises” and struck out subsec. (b) which read as follows: “Service at canteens other than those established at hospitals and homes shall be limited to sales of merchandise and services for consumption or use on the premises, to personnel employed at such establishments, their visitors, and other persons at such establishments on official business.” 1991—Pub. L. 102–40 renumbered section 4203 of this title as this section. Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 102–83 substituted “Department” for “Veterans’ Administration” in two places.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

38 U.S.C. § 7803

Title 38Veterans' Benefits

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73