Congressman Mark Udall, D-Colo., said he would like to see the U.S. Senate and House go back into session after the November election to pass legislation that would, among other things, create the Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area.

“As crazy as this year has been and as much as I would like to spend the rest of the year home in Colorado, I certainly would be more than willing to go back for a few days in a lame-duck session,” Udall told The Daily Sentinel’s editorial board Tuesday.

The Dominguez-Escalante legislation, sponsored by U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar, D-Colo., is awaiting action on the Senate floor, according to legislative records.

Udall also said he would like to see a public lands omnibus bill, which includes provisions providing a wilderness designation to Rocky Mountain National Park. That bill also is awaiting action on the Senate floor.

Udall said there is a “50-50 potential” lawmakers could head back to Washington this year.

He said Congress also should work during a lame-duck session to shore up a recently passed $700 billion bailout package for the country’s faltering financial markets.

He said he would like to see legislation passed this year with provisions to offer help to homeowners caught up in sub-prime lending schemes at the root of the financial meltdown.

Udall voted against the bailout package twice last week.

His opponent in Colorado’s U.S. Senate race, former Fort Collins Congressman Bob Schaffer, R-Colo., also opposed the bailout package.

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