Acting

Chuck Grassley

Charles Ernest Grassley, born on September 17, 1933, is an established American politician currently holding the position of president pro tempore of the United States Senate since 2025, a role he previously occupied from 2019 to 2021. Representing the Republican Party, Grassley has been Iowa's senior United States senator since 1981 and is recognized as the dean of the Senate.

Prior to his Senate career, Grassley spent eight terms in the Iowa House of Representatives from 1959 to 1975 and served three terms in the United States House of Representatives from 1975 to 1981. He has chaired the Senate Finance Committee multiple times during Republican majorities. Following Orrin Hatch's retirement on January 3, 2019, Grassley became the most senior Republican in the Senate and its president pro tempore. After Patrick Leahy's retirement in January 2023, he was recognized as the longest-serving member of the Senate.

At the age of 91 years, 9 months, and 16 days, Grassley holds the distinction of being the oldest sitting United States senator, the longest-serving Republican in congressional history, and ranks as the sixth-longest-serving senator overall. He also held the title of president pro tempore emeritus from 2021 to 2025. Throughout his extensive tenure in the Senate, Grassley has chaired several committees, including the Senate Finance Committee, the Senate Narcotics Caucus, the Senate Judiciary Committee, and the Senate Aging Committee.

Read more