Johnny Isakson: “50 years ago today, President Eisenhower signed into law legislation that established real estate investment trusts…”

“50 years ago today, President Eisenhower signed into law legislation that established real estate investment trusts, commonly known as REITs. His action gave the final stamp of approval to what our colleagues in this Chamber envisioned at that time for the general public: A secure and efficient way to invest in high-quality commercial real estate in the United States. I want to recognize the 50th anniversary of REITs and their significant contribution to the overall economic vitality of our Nation over the past 50 years. As my colleagues know, REITs allow any investor, no matter their financial resources, to secure all of the advantages of investing in real estate in the United States. Prior to 1960, access to the highly desirable investment returns of commercial real estate assets was limited to institutions and wealthy individuals who had the financial wealth to make direct real estate investments. By creating REITs, Congress recognized that small investors should be afforded the same opportunity to invest in portfolios of large-scale commercial properties and achieve the same investment benefits--diversification, liquidity, performance, transparency--as those able to make direct investments in real estate.”