MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) - Vermont Democratic U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy is now third in line for the presidency.
Leahy was sworn in Wednesday as the president pro tem of the Senate.
The post goes to the senator with the most seniority in the majority party. Leahy, who took office in 1975, is now the senator with the most seniority of either party.
As the pro tem, Leahy and U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi, the speaker of the House, have to sign all legislation passed by the Congress before any bill can be sent to the president’s desk for signing.
Leahy also served as Senate president pro tem from December 2012 to January 2015, his office said.
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