A committee in the House of Representatives is seeking the names of university researchers, graduate students, and laboratory technicians who conduct studies on fetal tissue, The New York Times reports.
Many universities are seeking to protect their students and staff from potentially dangerous responses that could come from releasing their names as a result of the 17 subpoenas that will be issued by the committee and Republican representative Marsha Blackburn, according to the Times.
Fetal tissue is frequently used in the study of vaccines for potentially fatal diseases. Researchers are afraid that this investigation could set back studies of diseases like the Zika virus, the Times reports. However, their biggest fear is the potential for endangering those whose names are listed as having been involved in this type of research, because of its association with abortions and Planned Parenthood.
Democrats agree that this kind of investigation could result in safety implications for the researchers involved.
“There is no legitimate need for the names of researchers, students, clinic personnel and doctors; and amassing a database that could be released publicly at any time is a threat to anyone whose name might be on that list,” The Hill reports Democratic Rep. Jan Schakowsky said in a statement Thursday.
Earlier this month, Blackburn told reporters, “We are going to continue to have the necessary information, and we are going to do everything possible to protect names and identities,” according to The Hill.