WASHINGTON — Rep. Mark Udall wants Congress to force the Bush Administration to be more forthcoming about contingency plans for the war in Iraq.

Udall, D-Eldorado Springs, made the pitch during a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on Tuesday.

He was promoting legislation that would require the Department of Defense to give details on what actions will be taken if the so-called surge of more than 20,000 new troops fails to solve the unrest in Iraq.

"I believe we should plan for worst case scenarios as the future unfolds in front of us," said Udall, a member of the House Armed Services Committee.

Udall said he was not satisfied with the answers he received when he asked Defense Secretary Robert Gates to detail the fall-back plan if a troop increase fails.

"I think all of us here believe vague reassurances aren’t enough, so I followed up with this bill," Udall said.

His legislation is one of several measures being considered for possible inclusion in an upcoming debate over a massive defense authorization