On June 3, 2009, the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection approved H.R. 1706, the “Protecting Consumer Access to Generic Drugs Act,” which would prohibit a brand name drug company from paying a generic drug company to stay off the market as part of a drug patent settlement. The Subcommittee passed the legislation on a 16-10 vote, sending it to the full Committee for further action. In a related development, the Senate Judiciary Committee has scheduled a June 11, 2009 markup of S.369, the “Preserve Access to Affordable Generics Act”.