Next I demonstrate that congressional activity on behalf of the poor is not responsive to periods during which the national poverty rate increases or when moderate-to-high poverty spreads into more congressional districts. I present GIS-based maps of the percentage of constituents living in poverty to demonstrate that poverty varies significantly from one congressional district to the next as well as over time. The significant variation depicted in these maps suggests that we might at least expect greater congressional effort in response to a changing poverty landscape, an expectation bolstered by scholarship on both legislative responsiveness and political geography. However, illustrative data as well as multivariate analyses uncover no evidence that Congress extends any more effort to address poverty – in terms of new legislation, hearings, or laws passed – in periods when poverty has intensified or spread. Thus Congress as a whole not only does little on issues relevant to the poor, but also is unresponsive to situations that call for greater action to address poverty.