For the second time, Senator Grassley was sworn in as Senate President pro tempore on January 3, 2025, succeeding Senator Patty Murray of Washington in this constitutional leadership role. The office is considered one of the highest honors in the Senate, historically bestowed upon the most senior member of the majority party in the upper chamber of Congress. The role places Grassley third in the line of presidential succession, following the Vice President of the United States and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Grassley is the second Iowan in the nation’s history to serve as President pro tempore. The only other Iowan to hold the office was Sen. Albert B. Cummins, who ascended to this leadership position in 1919, 100 years before Grassley was first elected to the role in 2019. Cummins served as Senate pro tempore in the 66th, 67th, 68th and 69th Congresses.
It’s once again a privilege for me and for Iowa to serve as President pro tempore of the Senate.
The U.S. Constitution establishes the office of the President pro tempore of the Senate to preside over the Senate in the Vice President’s absence. It is one of only three legislative officers designated in the U.S. Constitution. The other two are the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Vice President of the United States, who also serves as President of the Senate. Since 1947, the President pro tempore has stood third in line to succeed the presidency after the Vice President and the Speaker of the House, respectively.
The President pro tempore is responsible for conducting regular duties, including convening the Senate, presiding over the Senate and signing enrolled legislation before the bills are sent to the President to become law. In the absence of the Vice President, the President pro tempore may administer oaths required by the Constitution and jointly preside with the Speaker of the House when the two houses sit together in joint session or joint meetings. The office also works with the Secretary of the Senate and the Sergeant at Arms of the Senate to ensure the enforcement of the rules governing the use of the Capitol and the Senate office buildings, and is tasked with recommending candidates for U.S. Comptroller General, the head of the Government Accountability Office, in addition to other appointments to national commissions and advisory boards.
Additional responsibility won’t change the work ethic I learned as a boy on our Butler County farm. I’ll bring the same Iowa values of hard work, decency and common sense to this role as I have throughout my time in public service. My commitment to representative government and the deliberative body of the U.S. Senate is stronger than ever.
As President pro tempore, Grassley is responsible for administering oaths required by the Constitution.
More information about the history and duties of the office of the President pro tempore is available here: https://www.senate.gov/about/officers-staff/president-pro-tempore.htm