Chuck Grassley

Chuck Grassley
Official portrait, 2017
President pro tempore of the United States Senate
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2025
Preceded by	Patty Murray
In office January 3, 2019 – January 20, 2021
Preceded by	Orrin Hatch
Succeeded by	Patrick Leahy
Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2025
Preceded by	Dick Durbin
In office January 3, 2015 – January 3, 2019
Preceded by	Patrick Leahy
Succeeded by	Lindsey Graham
President pro tempore emeritus of the United States Senate
In office January 20, 2021 – January 3, 2025
Preceded by	Patrick Leahy
Succeeded by	Patty Murray
United States Senator from Iowa
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 1981 Serving with Joni Ernst
Preceded by	John Culver
Committee positions 1997–⁠2025 Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee In office January 3, 2023 – January 3, 2025 Preceded by Lindsey Graham Succeeded by Jeff Merkley Ranking Member of the Senate Narcotics Caucus In office January 3, 2023 – January 3, 2025 Preceded by John Cornyn Succeeded by Sheldon Whitehouse Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee In office February 3, 2021 – January 3, 2023 Preceded by Dianne Feinstein Succeeded by Lindsey Graham In office January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2015 Preceded by Jeff Sessions Succeeded by Patrick Leahy Chair of the Senate Finance Committee In office January 3, 2019 – February 3, 2021 Preceded by Orrin Hatch Succeeded by Ron Wyden In office January 3, 2003 – January 3, 2007 Preceded by Max Baucus Succeeded by Max Baucus In office January 20, 2001 – June 6, 2001 Preceded by Max Baucus Succeeded by Max Baucus Chair of the Senate Narcotics Caucus In office January 3, 2015 – January 3, 2019 Preceded by Dianne Feinstein Succeeded by John Cornyn Chair of the Senate Aging Committee In office January 3, 1997 – January 3, 2001 Preceded by William Cohen Succeeded by John Breaux
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Iowa's 3rd district
In office January 3, 1975 – January 3, 1981
Preceded by	H. R. Gross
Succeeded by	Cooper Evans
Member of the Iowa House of Representatives from Butler County
In office January 12, 1959 – January 3, 1975
Preceded by	Wayne Ballhagen
Succeeded by	Raymond Lageschulte
Constituency	73rd district (1959–1971) 10th district (1971–1973) 37th district (1973–1975)
Personal details
Born	Charles Ernest Grassley (1933-09-17) September 17, 1933 (age 91) New Hartford, Iowa, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Barbara Speicher ​ (m. 1954)​
Children	5
Relatives	Pat Grassley (grandson)
Education	University of Northern Iowa (BA, MA) University of Iowa
Signature
Website	Senate website
Grassley's voice Grassley supporting John Roberts for Chief Justice of the United States Recorded September 28, 2005

Charles Ernest Grassley (born September 17, 1933) is an American politician serving as the president pro tempore of the United States Senate. Concurrently he is the senior United States senator from Iowa, serving since 1981.

Grassley was first elected to the Senate in 1980 and has been reelected seven times. As of 2025, he is the oldest senator at 91 years old, and is the longest-serving Republican in congressional history and the sixth-longest-serving U.S. senator in history.

Before becoming a senator, Grassley served eight terms in the Iowa House of Representatives (1959–1975) and three terms in the United States House of Representatives (1975–1981). He has served three stints as Senate Finance Committee chairman during periods of Republican Senate majority.^[1][2] Upon the retirement of Orrin Hatch on January 3, 2019, Grassley became the Senate's most senior Republican and its president pro tempore.^[3][4] Upon Patrick Leahy's retirement in January 2023, Grassley became the most senior member of the Senate. At 91 years, 3 months and 21 days of age, Grassley is the oldest sitting United States senator. He served as the president pro tempore emeritus of the United States Senate from 2021 to 2025.

During his four decades in the Senate, Grassley has chaired the Senate Finance Committee, the Senate Narcotics Caucus, the Senate Judiciary Committee, and the Senate Aging Committee.