{
  "id": "RL33380",
  "type": "CRS Report",
  "typeId": "REPORTS",
  "number": "RL33380",
  "active": false,
  "source": "EveryCRSReport.com",
  "versions": [
    {
      "source": "EveryCRSReport.com",
      "id": 326428,
      "date": "2006-04-24",
      "retrieved": "2016-04-07T19:04:30.517029",
      "title": "Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs): Considerations for the Federal Employees Thrift Savings Plan (TSP)",
      "summary": "Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) are mutual funds made up of real estate and mortgage\nassets. \nIn recent years, their performance has been stronger than broader market indicators, leading to calls\nfor inclusion of an REIT alternative in the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) for federal workers. At\npresent, the TSP is limited to five savings vehicles, three of which are broad-based stock indexes.\nProponents of inclusion cite greater diversification and participant choice in the TSP as well as\npotentially higher returns as benefits of the proposal. The TSP board, while studying the matter, has\nargued that changes should only occur as part of a comprehensive program, should not encourage\n\"return chasing\" by participants, and should maintain the current very low cost structure of the TSP. \n  H.R. 1578 , the Real Estate Investment Thrift Savings Act, was introduced April\n12, 2005, to provide for an REIT option in the TSP. Hearings were held on the legislation April 19,\n2005, by the House Government Reform Subcommittee on the Federal Workforce and Agency\nOrganization. Further hearings are scheduled for April 26, 2006. A companion bill,  S. 2490 , was introduced in the Senate on April 13, 2006. \n This report summarizes the legal and economic history of REITs and the factors that have\ncontributed to recent strong performances of REITs as investment vehicles. It then addresses the\narguments behind their possible inclusion as an investment alternative in the TSP.\n This report will be updated as events warrant.",
      "type": "CRS Report",
      "typeId": "REPORTS",
      "active": false,
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          "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/RL33380",
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          "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/RL33380",
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      ],
      "topics": []
    }
  ],
  "topics": [
    "Economic Policy"
  ]
}