5 Calls: Contact Your Congress

Very useful and efficient. It would be nice to be able to pre-edit the suggested scripts, but using those is optional anyway. You still get auto-dialing of your specific lawmakers, which is a big help. (Tip: zip codes and auto-location stopped working for me. Entering a full street address works, though.) The issues and scripts are frequently updated, offering a wide range of topics that centrists and progressives will want to support. Only the farthest-right lunatic fringe are likely to object to the reasonable facts and issues this app contains. It does contain certain issues I care less about than others—which is why you pick and choose what’s worth your call. Don’t forget to tap “More Issues” to see all the current offerings.

As a voter who never knew how to speak up for issues that matter to me, I’m elated to find this app. It brings upcoming legislation to my attention, supplies the content and context for each one (plus links to further background), then provides a script that I can use verbatim or customize to my particular views. The cherry on top is the name and phone number of my representative right there at the top of the script and even the details for how to return to the script after placing the call. All that’s missing is the gumption I needed to overcome my fear of embarrassing myself by stumbling through it. Baby steps—I left voicemails. No excuse now for failing to make my voice heard. Hop on the bandwagon and do likewise!

I had been using a different service to call Congress since the election, but it was just one call, and I didn't always feel enthusiastic about the issue. Also, it was hard to keep track of what to say because it's a short text and a voicemail-- my mind would go blank when I called. Then I found 5Calls, the background info and a script for the call were all there on my phone screen. I still say what I want to, but the script helps me keep on task. Plus, if I get a busy signal, there's an easy way to get the other office numbers. I identified a few issues I cared about and my first time using, I made 7 calls. It's great.

In this time of political chaos, with so many issues coming at us daily, this app makes it easy for the user to choose from a list of issues, get background information about each issue and phone numbers for the appropriate people in government to call, based on where you live. It also gives precise House or Senate bill numbers, when appropriate, so that you can be clear when you call about the exact piece of legislation that you're commenting on. You then note whether you made contact, left a voicemail or couldn't get through. I use this app frequently and recommend it.

I'm so glad Michael Moore told folks about this app! It's easy to use (even for an oldster like me, unused to switching from phone app back to the helpful script). And the team does a great job of choosing issues and updating when needed. I agree with Llama Shock that being able to organize calls by legislators would be great. However, my congressperson's staff said they prefer one call per issue (my senators' staffers said they'd take messages one multiple issues in one call). It seems to make sense to do what the staffers prefer.