How did Peltola vote on bill to prevent Communist Chinese money from interfering in U.S. elections?

After missing 40% of her votes in Congress over the summer, Alaska Rep. Mary Peltola showed up to work on Tuesday to vote against the “No Foreign Election Interference Act,” a bill to crack down on foreign money influencing U.S. elections.

Every Republican voted in support of suspending rules and passing H.R. 8314, which prohibits tax-exempt organizations that receive funding from foreign nationals from contributing to political committees for eight years from the date that entity received a contribution or gift from a foreign national.

Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis, a member of the House Committee on Ways and Means, introduced the No Foreign Election Interference Act. Currently, the Federal Election Campaign Act prohibits foreign nationals from donating money directly to U.S. campaigns. However, there are no laws or regulations preventing foreign nationals from influencing U.S. elections by directing funds to 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) organizations or other tax-exempt organizations.

Under this bill tax-exempt entities would be barred from contributing to a political committee eight years from the date it received a contribution or gift from a foreign national. The first two disqualified contributions would be punished by a fine totaling 200% of the donation amount. A third contribution would result in the automatic revocation of tax-exempt status for the organization making the political committee donation.

Last month, Ways and Means Committee Republicans wrote to Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner Daniel Werfel raising concerns about foreign adversaries exercising influence over American-based tax-exempt organizations after recent reports shed light several U.S.-based tax-exempt organizations, including the Energy Foundation, The People’s Forum, and the Berger Action Fund that have been funding far-left advocacy groups, promoting Chinese Communist Party propaganda, and fueling antisemitic protests to influence America’s political landscape.

The Energy Foundation claims to be headquartered in California, however, tax forms show the group refers to itself as “Energy Foundation China,” and reports suggest the majority of its operations are conducted in China with a staff that has substantial connections to the CCP. The group contributed $3.8 million to promote “green” energy policies that would increase our country’s dependence on Chinese minerals and materials.

Roy Singham, a self described socialist who’s based in Shanghai, owns and operates a complex network of America-based nonprofits and has funded the The People’s Forum which has been at the center of a number of antisemitic incidents since the October 7 attacks in Israel. Singham has provided hundreds of millions of dollars to groups that mix progressive advocacy with CCP talking points, and its reported that he works closely “with the Chinese government media machine and is financing its propaganda world wide.” To date, it remains unclear how Singham, his entities and the U.S.-based individuals he’s associated with are being funded.

The Berger Action Fund, a nonprofit funded by Swiss billionaire Hansjörg Wyss, recently funneled $60 million to 13 left-wing advocacy groups focused on issues ranging from voter engagement to environmental initiatives. Among those subgroups he funds is the Sixteen Thirty Fund, which finances campaigns such as ranked-choice voting, Forrest Dunbar for Senate, and other leftist causes and candidates.

Peltola refused to join the 16 Democrats who voted in favor of the bill, which had 218 yeas and 181 nays. The bill needed two-thirds votes to pass, because it was considered a “suspension of the rules bill,” used for bills that typically pass easily because there is broad agreement. All of the “no” votes were Democrats.