This week, the House Ways and Means and Judiciary Committees will likely mark up HR 7, the "Community Solutions Act of 2001" which contains a combination of provisions that would provide tax incentives to increase charitable giving and extend federal funding opportunities for religious congregations that wish to mix social service with religious activity. The giving portions of HR 7 would help nonprofits and the people we serve. However, the charitable choice provisions would create a system of funding for federal poverty programs that would grant government funds directly to congregations and force program beneficiaries to participate in prayer or be subjected to promotion of religious beliefs. It would discriminate against secular nonprofits and allow discrimination in hiring staff for federally funded positions based on religious affiliation or belief. It contains intrusive disclosure requirements, and would allow lawsuits against state and local governments if they award a grant to a secular nonprofit instead of a religious congregation. HR 7 presents charities and the people we serve with an unacceptable choice: increased giving incentives at the cost of unconstitutional mixing of religion and government, and violation of beneficiaries' religious freedom. Congress should reject HR 7 and instead pass legislation such as HR 774, 776 and 777 sponsored by Rep. Phil Crane (R-IL). These bills include the major giving components of HR 7. In the Senate S 592, sponsored by Sens. Joe Lieberman and Rick Santorum (R-PA), also contains major giving proposals that are not linked to charitable choice. Over 1,000 members of America's clergy have written to the President expressing grave reservations about charitable choice. If the President is sincere about promoting charitable giving to all charities, he will endorse giving legislation that is not linked an ill-conceived charitable choice plan. OMB Watch's analysis of charitable choice is available here.