---
kind: "section"
citation: "38 U.S.C. § 7801"
title: "38"
title_heading: "Veterans’ Benefits"
number: "7801"
heading: "Purpose of Veterans’ Canteen Service"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/38/7801"
units:
  - "Part V — Boards, Administrations, and Services"
  - "Chapter 78 — Veterans’ Canteen Service"
---

# §7801. Purpose of Veterans’ Canteen Service


The [Veterans](/usc/38/101.md?p=2)’ Canteen Service (hereinafter in this chapter referred to as the “Service”) in the [Department](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) is an instrumentality of the United States, created for the primary purpose of making available to [veterans](/usc/38/101.md?p=2) of the [Armed Forces](/usc/38/101.md?p=10) who are hospitalized or domiciled in hospitals and homes of the [Department](/usc/38/101.md?p=1), at reasonable prices, articles of merchandise and services essential to their comfort and well-being.


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 85–857, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1248, § 4201; renumbered § 7801 and amended Pub. L. 102–40, title IV, § 402(a), (b)(1), May 7, 1991, 105 Stat. 238; Pub. L. 102–83, § 4(a)(3), (4), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 404; Pub. L. 107–14, § 8(a)(16), June 5, 2001, 115 Stat. 35.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2001—Pub. L. 107–14 substituted “hereinafter” for “hereafter”.

1991—Pub. L. 102–40 renumbered section 4201 of this title as this section.

Pub. L. 102–83 substituted “Department” for “Veterans’ Administration” in two places.