; (3) increasing the number of such health professionals working in health professional shortage areas designated under section 332; and (4) increasing the number of such health professionals working in areas with significant racial and ethnic disparities in maternal health outcomes, to the extent such data are available. (i) Definition In this section, the term racial and ethnic minority group has the meaning given such term in section 1707(g)(1). (j) Authorization of appropriations To carry out this section, there is authorized to be appropriated $15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028. . 4. Grants to grow and diversify the nursing workforce in maternal and perinatal health Title VIII of the Public Health Service Act is amended by inserting after section 811 of that Act ( 42 U.S.C. 296j ) the following: 812. Perinatal nursing workforce grants (a) In general The Secretary shall award grants to schools of nursing to grow and diversify the perinatal nursing workforce. (b) Use of funds Recipients of grants under this section shall use the grants to grow and diversify the perinatal nursing workforce by providing scholarships to students seeking to become— (1) nurse practitioners whose education includes a focus on maternal and perinatal health; (2) certified nurse-midwives; or (3) clinical nurse specialists whose education includes a focus on maternal and perinatal health. (c) Prioritization In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to any school of nursing that— (1) has developed a strategy to recruit and retain a diverse pool of students seeking to enter careers focused on maternal and perinatal health, particularly students from racial and ethnic minority groups and other underserved populations; (2) has developed a partnership with a practice setting in a health professional shortage area designated under section 332 for the clinical placements of the school’s students