HR 4768 RDS 
under the pilot program. The authority to provide services 
to any veteran under the preceding sentence applies dur-
ing the period beginning on the date specified in para-
graph (1) with respect to that pilot program and ending 
on December 31, 2005.’’. 
TITLE II—OTHER MATTERS 
SEC. 201. INCLUSION OF ALL ENROLLED VETERANS AMONG 
PERSONS ELIGIBLE TO USE CANTEENS OPER-
ATED BY VETERANS’ CANTEEN SERVICE. 
The text of section 7803 is amended to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(a) PRIMARY BENEFICIARIES.—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 sec-
tion 1705 of this title. 
‘‘(b) OTHER AUTHORIZED USERS.—Service at such 
canteens may also be furnished to— 
‘‘(1) personnel of the Department and recog-
nized veterans’ organizations who are employed at a 
facility at which canteen services are provided and to 
other persons so employed;
HR 4768 RDS 
‘‘(2) the families of persons referred to in para-
graph (1) who reside at the facility; and 
‘‘(3) relatives and other persons while visiting a 
person specified in this section.’’. 
SEC. 202. ENHANCEMENT OF MEDICAL PREPAREDNESS OF 
DEPARTMENT. 
(a) PEER REVIEW PANEL.—In order to assist the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs in selecting facilities of the 
Department of Veterans Affairs to serve as sites for cen-
ters under section 7327 of title 38, United States Code, 
as added by subsection (c), the Secretary shall establish 
a peer review panel to assess the scientific and clinical 
merit of proposals that are submitted to the Secretary for 
the selection of such facilities. The panel shall be estab-
lished not later than 90 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act and shall include experts in the fields 
of toxicological research, infectious diseases, radiology, 
clinical care of veterans exposed to such hazards, and 
other persons as determined appropriate by the Secretary. 
Members of the panel shall serve as consultants to the De-
partment of Veterans Affairs. Amounts available to the 
Secretary for Medical Care may be used for purposes of 
carrying out this subsection. The panel shall not be subject 
to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.).
HR 4768 RDS 
(b) PROPOSALS.—The Secretary shall solicit pro-
posals for designation of facilities as described in sub-
section (a). The announcement of the solicitation of such 
proposals shall be issued not later than 60 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, and the deadline for 
the submission of proposals in response to such solicitation 
shall be not later than 90 days after the date of such an-
nouncement. The peer review panel established under sub-
section (a) shall complete its review of the proposals and 
submit its recommendations to the Secretary not later 
than 60 days after the date of the deadline for the submis-
sion of proposals. The Secretary shall then select the four 
sites for the location of such centers not later than 45 
days after the date on which the peer review panel submits 
its recommendations to the Secretary. 
(c) REVISED SECTION.—Subchapter II of chapter 73 
is amended by adding at the end a new section with— 
(1) a heading as follows: 
‘‘§ 7327. Medical preparedness centers’’; 
and 
(2) a text consisting of the text of subsections 
(a) through (h) of section 7325 of title 38, United 
States Code, and a subsection (i) at the end as fol-
lows: