The National Religious Broadcasters Association is raising concerns about legislation said to protect gay Americans from job discrimination.

NRB Vice President Craig Parshall told a Senate committee religious exemptions in the Employment Non-Discrimination Act are inadequate and would have a "chilling effect on religious organizations."

Democrats on the Senate committee argued similar laws at the state level have posed no significant problems.

Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., said workplace discrimination "is morally wrong and we must end it."

But Parshall maintained ENDA would "interfere" with the ability of religious organizations "to effectively pursue their missions."