Iowa Senator, Chuck Grassley, has been unanimously nominated to serve as Senate Pro Tempore, an honor typically bestowed upon the most senior member of the majority party. Wednesday’s announcement by the 116th Congress would put Grassley third in line of presidential succession, following the Vice President and the Speaker of the House. The only other Iowan to serve in this capacity was Senator Albert B. Cummins, who was chosen first in 1919 and held the role for the 66th, 67th, 68th and 69th Congress. “This is an honor for me and the state of Iowa,” Grassley says. “The President Pro Tempore is one of a handful of offices specifically named by the Founders of the Constitution. I may only be three heartbeats away from the Oval Office, but my heart is and always will be in Iowa and here in the U.S. Senate, where I’ve worked for the people of Iowa for 38 years.” He adds that his commitment to representative government is stronger than ever and he will continue to work to uphold the Senate’s position as a part of the checks-and-balances system of the executive and judicial branches of government.
