Understanding the far-reaching impact of sexual violence and the importance of prevention, Congress passed the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) of 1994, which established CDC's Rape Prevention and Education (RPE) Program. Congress reauthorized $80 million for this program in the Violence Against Women Act of 2000. With fiscal year 2004 funding of approximately $44 million, CDC provides national leadership on sexual violence prevention by supporting rape prevention and education programs in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and seven U.S. territories. RPE programs use funding to increase awareness about sexual violence through educational seminars (for professionals, the public, schools, colleges, and universities), hotline operations, and development of informational materials. Other efforts target under-served communities and people with disabilities. This paper highlights CDC's RPE Program initiatives for addressing sexual violence.