1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Public Health Nursing Act . 2. Public health nursing workforce Part E of title VII of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 294n et seq. ) is amended by adding at the end the following: 4 Public health nursing workforce 780. Public health nursing workforce (a) In general The Secretary shall carry out activities relating to establishing, expanding, and sustaining a public health nursing workforce, including by making grants to State, local, and territorial public health departments. (b) Use of funds for public health departments (1) In general The recipient of a grant under subsection (a) shall use the grant funds for the following: (A) Costs, including wages and benefits, relating to the recruiting, hiring, and training licensed registered nurses— (i) to serve as public health nurses providing health care services and education regarding preventive health, nutrition, infectious diseases, chronic disease management, and maternal health, prenatal, and postpartum care in order to improve maternal and infant health outcomes; (ii) who are employed by the State, territorial, or local public health department involved, particularly in medically underserved areas; and (iii) who work in public health facilities, including mobile health clinics and acute care hospitals, or who provide home visitation. (B) Costs of medical supplies, including personal protective equipment, necessary to carry out the activities described in subparagraph (A). (C) Administrative costs and activities relating to grant activities. (2) Subgrants The recipient of a grant under subsection (a) may make subgrants to local health departments to be used for the activities described in paragraph (1). (c) Priority In selecting recipients of grants under subsection (a), the Secretary shall give priority to applicants that— (1) propose to serve— (A) areas with populations that have a high rate of chronic disease, infant mortality, or maternal morbidity and mortality