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The debate over federal financing of programs operated by nonprofits with religious affiliations — or so-called charitable choice — dates back to the Clinton administration, when it became part of a welfare overhaul. Organizations are not allowed to discriminate against clients based on religion or require, say, attendance at church services as part of service delivery but are able to exercise their religious beliefs in hiring and other aspects of their operations.

The Coalition Against Religious Discrimination, whose members include the American Civil Liberties Union, the Hindu American Foundation and the N.A.A.C.P., has been pushing Congress to eliminate charitable choice altogether for many years, and it said the pending bill did not go far enough.

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