Leading business organizations of Puerto Rico join forces in Washington to advance a federal agenda on economic development, energy, manufacturing, and healthcare.

San Juan, Puerto Rico, January 19, 2026 — In an unprecedented effort, the Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce (CCPR), the Puerto Rico Manufacturers Association (AIPR), and the Puerto Rico Society of Certified Public Accountants (CCPA) announced today that they will lead a joint high-level business delegation to Washington, D.C., from January 20 to 22. The purpose of the visit is to promote affirmative actions and federal policy priorities aimed at addressing the structural challenges that hinder Puerto Rico’s economic and social development.

This alliance, formed for the first time as a unified business front, represents a strategic step toward prioritizing the key issues that impact Puerto Rico’s competitiveness, critical infrastructure, and overall well-being. It also aims to advocate for concrete measures that advance a federal agenda aligned with Puerto Rico’s reality as a U.S. jurisdiction.

The delegation will take place as part of the FACES (Federal Affairs Chamber Educational Series) program, an initiative of the Chamber of Commerce led by Cameron McKenzie, investment banker, former PRCC president, and former member of the Financial Oversight and Management Board for Puerto Rico. The mission will bring together leaders from the business, manufacturing, healthcare, financial, and professional services sectors, who will hold meetings with the executive branch—including the White House and federal agencies—as well as with members of Congress, to discuss a coordinated agenda focused on three strategic priorities:

1. Modernization of Puerto Rico’s electric grid and acceleration of the disbursement of federal infrastructure funds.

2. Positioning Puerto Rico as a strategic pillar for manufacturing reshoring and the security of U.S. supply chains.

3. Correcting structural inequities in federal health financing, particularly in Medicare Advantage.

“This mission to Washington responds to a strategic urgency for Puerto Rico. We will advocate for the modernization of our electric grid and the accelerated disbursement of already‑allocated federal funds, to position Puerto Rico as a key ally in manufacturing reshoring and supply chain security, and to demand corrections to historical inequities in federal health financing, particularly in Medicare Advantage. Puerto Rico is ready to contribute more to economic development and national security, but we need fair rules and execution,” said Margaret Ramírez Báez, President of the CCPR. “Puerto Rico is not seeking special treatment. On the contrary, we seek fair treatment and efficient policies that, as a U.S. jurisdiction, facilitate investment, private‑sector growth, and job creation for citizens living on the Island,” added Ramírez Báez.

A Unified Message for Puerto Rico’s Economic Development

During the three‑day visit, the delegation will present public policy documents and formal proposals, and will hold meetings with the U.S. Department of Energy, Congressional committees, and multiple key legislative offices.

The three organizations emphasized that this effort aims to promote structural and measurable solutions capable of generating decades of investment, economic development, and job creation, while also strengthening U.S. national and economic security. As CPA David A. Rodríguez, President of the Puerto Rico Society of Certified Public Accountants, noted, “We are at a moment where engaging in the public conversation about economic development demonstrates our commitment to our country.”

Energy: Grid Reliability and Urgent Federal Execution

The delegation will advocate for greater federal coordination and faster execution of already‑allocated federal funds to modernize Puerto Rico’s electric grid, recognizing that reliable, resilient, and affordable energy is essential to attract investment, expand manufacturing, protect essential services, and strengthen public safety.

Puerto Rico’s grid has suffered from decades of chronic underinvestment, outdated infrastructure, and extreme vulnerability to natural disasters. Although billions of federal dollars have been allocated for recovery and infrastructure, bottlenecks in disbursements, oversight, and interagency coordination have delayed the transformative projects the Island urgently needs.

To achieve a reliable and affordable energy system, the delegation is asking the U.S. Congress for concrete affirmative actions:

• Appoint a federal energy coordinator for Puerto Rico to accelerate execution and harmonize efforts between FEMA, HUD, DOE, and local agencies;

• Ensure full and equitable access to federal energy programs — including those from the Department of Energy and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) — with mechanisms adapted to Puerto Rico’s reality;

• Prioritize investment and accountability in grid modernization with clear metrics on reliability, cost, local workforce development, and long‑term sustainability.

Manufacturing and Reshoring: Puerto Rico as a U.S. Strategic Platform

Puerto Rico already ranks among the most important centers of pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturing under U.S. jurisdiction. The delegation will promote the federal alignment necessary to make the Island a preferred destination for bringing manufacturing operations back to U.S. territory, particularly in life sciences, medical devices, advanced manufacturing, and strategic industries.

Notably, Puerto Rico remains a strategic pillar of the United States’ industrial and biopharmaceutical supply chains:

• 11 of the top 20 global pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies operate on the Island;

• Puerto Rico is the second‑largest producer and exporter of pharmaceutical products in the United States;

• Six of the top ten biologic products globally are manufactured locally;

• The Island hosts more than 30 medical device companies, including six of the top ten Class III device manufacturers (FDA);

• Puerto Rico has the largest concentration of specialized talent in pharmaceuticals and medical devices in the nation.

“Puerto Rico offers something truly unique: U.S. jurisdiction, U.S. workforce, U.S. regulatory framework, and duty‑free access to the U.S. market,” said Rafael Vélez‑Domínguez, President of the Puerto Rico Manufacturers Association. He added, “With the correct federal alignment, Puerto Rico can become one of the strongest and most powerful reshoring platforms in the Western Hemisphere, strengthening supply chains and the nation’s economic security.”

Health: Correcting Structural Inequities to Protect Access and Stability

The delegation will also advance proposals to correct the structural underfunding of the Medicare Advantage program in Puerto Rico, which serves the majority of Medicare beneficiaries on the Island. The organizations emphasized that these distortions in federal financing put access to services, provider stability, and system sustainability at risk.

“The health system is not only a social priority — it is also a fundamental economic sector and a major employer,” said Luis Pizarro Otero, Chair of the CCPR Health Committee. “Correcting these distortions is essential for human capital, productivity, and Puerto Rico’s fiscal stability,” the executive stressed.

High‑Level Delegation and Multi-sector Representation

The delegation includes senior leadership from the three organizations, as well as representatives from manufacturing, finance, health, investment, and professional services, including:

• Hon. Cameron McKenzie, Former CCPR President and Chair of FACES

• Margaret Ramírez Báez, President of CCPR

• José Julio Aparicio Laspina, President‑Elect, CCPR

• Liza García Vélez, Executive Director, CCPR

• Luis Pizarro Otero, Past President and Chair, CCPR Health Committee

• Rodrigo Zavala, General Manager, Eco Eléctrica and Chair, CCPR Energy Committee

• Rafael Vélez‑Domínguez, President, AIPR

• Karen Mojica Franceschi, Executive Vice President, AIPR

• David A. Rodríguez Ortiz, President, Puerto Rico Society of CPA’s

• Kenneth Rivera‑Robles, Former President of CCPA and CCPR; Expert in Tax and Fiscal Policy

A Coordinated Federal Agenda with a National Focus

This mission is part of the Federal Affairs Chamber Educational Series (FACES) program and represents one of the most coordinated multisector lobbying efforts by Puerto Rico’s private sector in recent years. It is marked by a shared vision: elevate the federal conversation from reactive to strategic, and position Puerto Rico as an essential asset for U.S. economic development.

“The private sector of Puerto Rico is prepared to take on an increasingly relevant role within the United States’ economic development and national security agenda. To do so, it is essential to advance in a coordinated way on energy security, strengthening human capital, and equity in health system financing. Our strategic geographic position places Puerto Rico in a privileged position to serve as a high‑value manufacturing platform and enhance national security resilience, so that the Island continues to solidify itself as a key asset within the United States industrial base,” concluded Cameron McKenzie, leader of the FACES delegation.

Media contact:

Karen Garnik, APR, Fellow PRSA – 787-502-2424
karen@globalvisioncomms.com

Isadora Hernández- 787-310-3807
isadora@globalvisioncomms.com

Wilnelia Dávila – 787-547-0282
wdavila@prma.com