Gov. Jerry Brown headed to Washington D.C. on Monday for a series of meetings, including with the Nuclear Threat Initiative, a nonprofit organization that seeks to reduce reliance upon and risks posed by nuclear weapons. Brown became a board member in January.

Though it’s unclear how his week will be spent, the visit comes at a critical time for California and the nation’s capital.

Governor Brown is calling for new federal funding to assist in disaster relief, and on Thursday, House Republicans will make a new case for a replacement to the Affordable Care Act.

Politico’s David Siders explains Brown’s role at this contentious time in politics and what the Governor is hoping to achieve from this visit.