today. starting on monday, the u.s. will restrict travel from eight nations in southern africa. that is where the variant was first reported. joining me now, representative brendan boyle, democrat from pennsylvania. he is also a member of the house ways and means and budget committees. lots to get to here. starting with this, sir, as i welcome you on this holiday weekend. your biggest concerns are what around this variant? and do you foresee the likelihood, even a possibility, of sending the u.s. back into varying stages of shutdown as a result of omicron? >> well, great to be with you on this holiday weekend, and certainly any news of a new variant concerns all of us. that said, though, we know the best way to handle, whether it's traditional covid or any of the variants that come down the pike, and that is through getting the population vaccinated. pennsylvania, which you were talking about moments ago, despite the increase in recent cases, we at least are in the