Grassley Sworn In as Senate President Pro Tempore for the 119th Congress

WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) today was sworn in as President pro tempore of the Senate. The President pro tempore is a constitutional office customarily bestowed on the longest serving member of the Senate majority party. As President pro tempore, Grassley is now the second highest-ranking official in the Senate – behind the Vice President, who serves as President of the Senate – and follows the Vice President and Speaker of the House in the line of presidential succession. 

“It’s once again a privilege for me and for Iowa to serve as President pro tempore of the Senate. 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,” Grassley said. “I look forward to continuing to foster civic engagement and upholding the Senate’s reputation as the greatest deliberative body in the world.”  

• Convening the Senate;
• Recognizing senators desiring to speak on the Senate floor;
• Deciding points of order;
• Enforcing decorum;
• Administering oaths required by the Constitution;
• Signing legislation that has passed both chambers of Congress – known as “enrolled bills” – before they are delivered to the White House for the President’s signature; 
• Recommending appointments of various congressional officers, certain commissions, advisory boards and committees.