Voters should care about this bill because it impacts the fundamental process by which the cleanliness of our nation's waters is determined. If this bill becomes law, the EPA would have to involve the public more formally and rigorously when setting guidelines for healthy water, which could lead to standards that are more transparent and responsive to public input. This could mean a more robust public discussion on what constitutes 'clean water' and how to achieve it.

Without this bill, the EPA might continue to issue some water quality criteria through less formal processes, potentially limiting opportunities for public participation and direct judicial challenges. The change to requiring formal rulemaking and direct judicial review means that the science and policy behind water quality standards would face increased scrutiny, potentially making them more durable and less susceptible to being overturned by future administrations or legal challenges based on procedural grounds. Ultimately, it’s about how much say the public has and how legally sound the rules are that protect our drinking water, recreational areas, and aquatic ecosystems.