New Mexico residents without passports will be able to get on domestic airline flights after Dec. 31 without a problem, members of the state's Congressional delegation have been told.

New Mexico's failure to comply with new federal rules on issuing driver's licenses had raised the prospect that such credentials wouldn't pass legal muster for getting through airport security checkpoints beginning next year.

"We fully understand the anxiety this situation has caused New Mexico holiday travelers, but we have received every assurance that there is no need for them to worry," U.S. Sens. Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall and U.S. Rep. Ben Luján, all Democrats, said in a joint statement Thursday.

"Anyone planning to travel with a state-issued identification will not be hindered," the statement said.

There was no immediate word from the Department of Homeland Security on whether it has pushed back a deadline for states to comply with Real ID rules.

The requirements are part of post-9/11 license security guidelines that the Bush administration and Congress wanted states to adopt. However, the department has said that contingency plans are in place in case Congress doesn't act to extend the deadline.

Currently, states have to meet the requirements by Jan. 1 or licenses from those states won't be accepted for airline travel. Many states do not meet the standards in the federal law and oppose it.

The main sticking point for New Mexico is that it since 2003 has allowed immigrants to get driver's licenses using a Mexican government-issued ID or a taxpayer identification number.

Many have hoped Congress would act on the Real ID or alternative legislation, known as the PASS (Providing Additional Security in States' Identification) Act before the year ends.

The PASS ID Act contains many of the same provisions as Real ID, but gives the states longer to comply. The Obama administration is backing that proposal.

Contact Kate Nash at 986-3036 or knash@sfnewmexican.com. Read her blog at www.greenchilechatter.com.