The Senate confirms Carlos J. Ríos Pierluisi as DDEC secretary

On June 22, 2026, the Senado de Puerto Rico announces that the Innovación, Reforma y Nombramientos commission Thomas Rivera Schatz chairs rendered positive reports on nine designations. The Alto Cuerpo confirmed attorney Carlos J. Ríos Pierluisi as secretary of the Departamento de Desarrollo Económico y Comercio. That is the Senate page's spelling. La Fortaleza had presented Carlos J. Ríos Pierluisi to the private sector on June 15; on the 22nd, the Senate gives advice and consent.

On the same URL, the floor approves Senate Bills 768, 984, 985, and 1087, authored by Thomas Rivera Schatz. The 768 creates a credit for donations to the Olympic Trust Permanent Fund and asks an institutional water rate, not commercial. The 984 amends the Internal Revenue Code for a deduction of up to 1,500 dollars a year for volunteering at nonprofits, health facilities, or public bodies. The 985 makes technical amendments to the same Code to facilitate compliance. The 1087 clarifies voluntary and involuntary acquirers in the Municipal Code. Also confirmed are Alexandra Marie Figueroa Dalmau (Comisión Industrial), Olga Birriel Cardona, Alex J. Torres Guzmán, and Waleska Rivera Torres (Banco de Desarrollo Económico), among other designations the page lists.

On June 18, Metro had covered Francisco Domenech's sworn statements against Sebastián Negrón Reichard, the former DDEC secretary. That complaint is not this confirmation. Carlos J. Ríos Pierluisi enters the office by senatorial vote; Negrón Reichard leaves the account as an accused predecessor, not as the person confirmed.

What remain are the name Carlos J., Thomas Rivera Schatz's four bills, and the 1,500 dollars of volunteering. The Senate URL is at the foot. This is not original reporting.

Source: Senado de Puerto Rico. https://www.senado.pr.gov/senado-aprueba-medidas-del-presidente-senatorial-para-fortalecer-el-deporte-incentivar-el-voluntariado-disposiciones-contributivas-y-responsabilidades-municipales