The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), under the Department of Health and Human Services, has initiated a 30-day public comment period concerning revisions to the information collection requirements for its Rape Prevention and Education (RPE) Program. This notice, published in the Federal Register on August 6, 2026, invites input from the public and affected agencies on proposed changes to data collection under OMB Control Number 0920-1431.
This action follows an earlier request for comments published on May 27, 2026, which yielded five responses. The current period offers an additional opportunity for stakeholders to contribute to the refinement of a critical federal effort aimed at addressing sexual violence across the nation.
The RPE Program and its Mandate
The RPE Program is the principal federally funded initiative focused on the primary prevention of sexual violence (SV). Administered by the CDC's Division of Violence Prevention (DVP), the program provides vital funding to health departments and sexual violence coalitions in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, US territories, and up to ten tribal coalitions. These funds support efforts to build prevention infrastructure, implement evidence-based prevention strategies, and evaluate their effectiveness in expanding efforts to prevent sexual assault.
Legislative authority for the RPE Program stems from several key federal acts, including the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), and Sections 393A(a) and 392(a)(1) of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act. Additionally, Section 301(a) of the PHS Act provides the framework for funding grants and cooperative agreements that support research, investigations, and demonstrations related to the control and prevention of diseases and impairments. These statutory provisions underscore the federal commitment to public health advancements and reducing disparities in health outcomes, positioning sexual violence prevention squarely within this mandate.
The Public Health Challenge of Sexual Violence
Sexual violence represents a significant public health crisis in the United States. Statistics cited by the CDC highlight the pervasive nature of this issue: approximately one in three women and one in four men experience sexual violence involving physical contact during their lifetimes. Nearly one in five women and one in 38 men have experienced completed or attempted rape. The data also indicate that sexual violence often begins early, with roughly one in three female and one in four male rape victims experiencing it for the first time between the ages of 11 and 17. The DVP's role is to provide national leadership in preventing both the perpetration and victimization of SV before it occurs.
Proposed Revisions and Their Impact
CDC is seeking a three-year reapproval for the RPE Program's information collection. The core objective of this data collection is to assess how recipients are building program and partner capacity, implementing and evaluating prevention strategies at community and societal levels, and using data to inform prevention actions. The proposed revisions are designed to streamline the reporting process and ensure compliance with federal requirements.
The collection of this information, primarily through the online DVP Partners Portal, is crucial for several reasons: it informs national sexual violence prevention efforts, enhances accountability for the use of federal funds, facilitates timely program reporting and responses to congressional inquiries, improves real-time communication between CDC and RPE recipients, and strengthens the CDC's capacity to provide data-driven technical assistance and monitor program performance. The goal is to encourage the expansion of implemented and evaluated strategies, focusing on centering and engaging communities in primary prevention.
Notably, the CDC estimates a reduction in the annual burden hours for respondents. The proposed changes are projected to decrease the total estimated annual burden from 1,408 hours to 1,137 hours, representing a decrease of 271 hours. This reduction signifies an effort to minimize administrative load on the RPE-funded health departments, sexual assault coalitions, and tribal coalitions, who are the primary respondents. There is no monetary cost to respondents beyond their time.
Opportunities for Public Comment
Members of the public and affected agencies are encouraged to provide comments addressing several key areas of interest to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB):
- Evaluating the necessity and practical utility of the proposed information collection for the agency's functions.
- Assessing the accuracy of the agency's burden estimates, including the methodology and assumptions.
- Suggesting ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected.
- Proposing methods to minimize the burden on respondents, such as through automated or electronic collection techniques.
- Analyzing information collection costs.
Comments must be submitted within 30 days of the notice's publication, indicating a deadline of September 5, 2026. This process ensures transparency and allows for broad stakeholder engagement in shaping federal data collection practices.
