In his introductions of Gramm and Hutchison, Gillis highlighted the senators' commitment to higher education. Gramm, he said, has been a champion of Rice and all higher education, in particular serving as a leading proponent of basic research funding. Hutchison, too, has been a friend to higher education, strongly supporting the 1997 tax bill, which featured a host of higher education tax incentives, and backing the Higher Education Act of 1998, which eases the process of paying for a college education. Gramm said his support for Rice's athletics program goes far beyond the personal. His son, Marshall, graduated from Rice in 1995.
Rice maintains academic excellence yet is competitive in athletics.
To do this, Gramm said he believed Rice's football stadium, especially its seating, must be improved. The bad news is that the money is still in your wallets. Hutchison, who was born in LaMarque, Texas, said she remembers the days when her father took her to watch football games at Rice stadium. And it was. Hutchison praised Rice for its commitment to excellence.