WASHINGTON - Dakotas senators said Monday that they will push for $6 billion in agricultural disaster aid before the end of the year, though it's unclear if the aid will surface as a priority in the remaining days of the Republican Congress.

Democratic Sen. Kent Conrad of North Dakota told reporters that he intends to continue pushing the legislation that would pay farmers affected by drought, flooding and other weather-related disasters. Conrad and other farm-state members held a rally for the bill before Congress took a break for the elections, but leaders never brought it to the floor.

Conrad said supporters will try to move the legislation soon even though Republican Senate and House leaders have shown little interest in the disaster money. Democrats will take over both chambers in January due to major gains in last week's elections.

"There's a need for people to know as early as possible what their financial situation is," Conrad said.

North Dakota's other senator, Democrat Byron Dorgan, said the chances of moving the legislation will be much better once the Democrats take control.

"We will have the power of scheduling," he said.

The legislation has bipartisan support in the Senate, and several Republicans have signed on to the Conrad bill. But the House has been a tougher sell, as conservatives from that chamber have strongly opposed any disaster money.

House Republicans and White House officials have argued the aid is too expensive and would be distributed unfairly.

Democratic House leadership may change that scenario, however.

Minnesota Rep. Collin Peterson, the incoming Democratic chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, said in a statement that he is "encouraged by the positive signs I've heard from the current House leadership about the possibility that Congress will pass disaster assistance during this lame duck session of Congress."

A smaller amount of relief could also pass as part of a wide-ranging spending bill. Dorgan added $4 billion in disaster aid to an annual agriculture spending bill earlier this year, and that legislation could be wrapped into a larger bill to be passed by the end of the year.

Sen. Tim Johnson, D-S.D., said Monday that Bush administration opposition could be a deciding factor.

"This may require some negotiations with the White House to make this happen," he said.

Kyle Downey, a spokesman for Republican Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, said the senator hopes "more level heads will prevail" now that the election is over.