1. Short title This Act may be cited as the HBCU Propelling Agency Relationships Towards a New Era of Results for Students Act or the HBCU PARTNERS Act . 2. Findings and purposes (a) Findings Congress finds the following: (1) As many colleges and universities across the country kept their doors closed to African American applicants, historically Black colleges and universities (referred to in this section as HBCUs ) played a central role in ensuring that African Americans could attain an excellent education. (2) Today, HBCUs continue to play a critical role in ensuring that African Americans, and those of all races, can access high-quality educational opportunities. (3) HBCUs enroll nearly 300,000 students, an estimated 70 percent of whom come from low-income backgrounds and 80 percent of whom are African American. (4) According to the National Association For Equal Opportunity In Higher Education, HBCUs make up just 3 percent of American institutions of higher education but serve more than a fifth of African American college students. (5) A March 2017 report from the Education Trust concluded that HBCUs have higher completion rates for African American students than other institutions serving similar student populations. (6) In 2014, HBCUs generated a total direct economic impact of $14,800,000,000 and created more than 134,000 jobs, according to a study commissioned by the United Negro College Fund (referred to in this section as UNCF ). (7) According to the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (referred to in this section as TMCF ), 40 percent of African American Members of Congress, 50 percent of African American lawyers, and 80 percent of African American judges are graduates of HBCUs. (8) According to UNCF, in 2013, HBCUs awarded a quarter of all science, technology, engineering, and mathematics bachelor’s degrees awarded to African Americans. (9) According to TMCF, approximately 9 percent of all African American college students attend HBCUs. (10) According to UNCF, African American graduates of HBCUs are