Charles Ernest Grassley

Republican senior Senator of Iowa

  • Senator

    Iowa

    January 3, 2023 - January 3, 2029

25

Congresses Served

3

House Terms

8

Senate Terms

January 1, 1933 (91 years old)

Birthday

  • Has been serving as the senior United States senator since 1981
  • First elected to the Senate in 1980 and has been reelected seven times
  • Longest-serving Republican in Congressional history
  • Served in the Iowa House of Representatives and the United States House of Representatives before becoming a senator
  • Has chaired the Senate Finance Committee, the Senate Narcotics Caucus, the Senate Judiciary Committee, and the Senate Aging Committee
  • Became the Senate’s most senior Republican and its president pro tempore upon Orrin Hatch’s retirement in 2019
  • Became the most senior member of the Senate and the oldest sitting United States senator as of 2023
  • Has a background in farming and education, having worked in factories and taught at Charles City College
  • Has been involved in various legislative efforts, including tax reforms, health care, and investigations into government waste and abuse
  • Known for holding public meetings in all of Iowa’s 99 counties each year
  • Has expressed strong opinions on issues such as abortion, agriculture, antitrust, energy and environment, estate taxes, gun laws, health care, and marijuana legalization
  • Has been involved in efforts to protect whistleblowers and investigate religious organizations and medical research practices
  • Has received awards for his work and contributions to health policy and government oversight