The Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce Advances Its Federal Agenda in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., April 9, 2025 — A delegation from the Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce (PRCC), led by its President, Attorney Luis E. Pizarro-Otero, along with members of the Federal Affairs Chamber Educational Series (FACES) committee, traveled to the nation’s capital this week to participate in a series of high-level meetings with Congressional leaders and senior officials from the Trump Administration.
FACES was created to develop a targeted federal advocacy agenda focusing on key areas such as economic development—including industrial reshoring strategies—healthcare, energy, manufacturing, food security, infrastructure, and taxation. This initiative continues to strengthen the critical dialogue between Puerto Rico’s productive sectors and federal policymakers, ensuring the Island’s priorities remain at the forefront of the national conversation.
During this mission, the PRCC delegation is addressing priority issues related to Puerto Rico’s long-term energy resilience through grid modernization, the Island’s strategic positioning within reshoring initiatives promoted by the federal administration—led by Presidential Advisor Peter Navarro—support for FEMA-assigned recovery funds, and future economic growth. The agenda includes meetings with both Republican and Democratic Congressional leaders, as well as officials from the White House.
These discussions align with federal efforts to support the return of manufacturing operations to Puerto Rico, leveraging the Island’s historic leadership in pharmaceutical and medical device production. Based on the meetings held, Puerto Rico is well-positioned to lead the establishment of new manufacturing operations across various industries, with strong bipartisan support in the U.S. Congress. Conversations also focused on the creation of a federal working group to evaluate priority areas and advance the Island’s manufacturing opportunities, particularly in light of the ongoing U.S.-China trade landscape.
“This mission reflects the Chamber’s ongoing commitment to securing tangible support for Puerto Rico’s reconstruction efforts and promoting the Island’s potential as a hub for innovation, manufacturing, and health investment,” stated PRCC President, Attorney Luis E. Pizarro-Otero.
The group also includes PRCC First Vice President, Attorney José Julio Aparicio; former PRCC President and current Chair of the Tax Committee, CPA Kenneth Rivera; and Attorney Wanda Pérez, Chair of the PRCC Telecommunications Committee. The delegation held meetings with key Republican and Democratic members of Congress, including newly elected Florida Senator Ashley Moody; Representative Dale Strong, Chair of the FEMA Subcommittee; Representative Carlos Giménez, Chair of the Emergency Preparedness Caucus; Representative Jeff Hurd, Chair of the House Committee on Insular Affairs; Representative Adriano Espaillat, Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus; Representative Darren Soto, member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce; and the Hon. Sean Duffy, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation. Additional key meetings took place with the Senate Finance Committee, the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, the House Natural Resources Committee, the Select Committee on China, and the Homeland Security Committee.
The delegation is also advocating for Puerto Rico’s inclusion in federal health and food security programs. They met with Congressman Vern Buchanan to discuss Puerto Rico’s integration into the “Make America Healthy Again” strategy, aiming to maximize the nutritional and health impact of these programs, and to receive updates on Medicare Advantage and Medicaid on the Island.
“After successfully leading several missions to Washington, D.C., to strengthen relations and communication with the Federal Government and Congress, we reaffirm our commitment to advancing a comprehensive agenda for the benefit of Puerto Rico,” added PRCC President Pizarro-Otero.
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