AUGUSTA — Seeking to help about 500 Maine veterans who get their medical care at a military base, the House endorsed a measure Wednesday that would cover the cost of buying each of the patients a required identification card.

Rep. Jared Golden, D-Lewiston, said the veterans haven’t been able to use their Maine driver’s licenses to get access to medical treatment at Pease Air National Guard Base in New Hampshire because the state cards don’t meet new federal guidelines.

“The Legislature has some responsibility for this situation because of its past decisions rejecting Real ID compliance,” said Golden, a Marine veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. “I’m glad we have been able to move quickly on a solution.”

To resolve the problem, Golden determined the easiest, fastest resolution would be to buy U.S. passport cards for the veterans who need access to the Newington, New Hampshire, base.

First-time applicants can get wallet-size passport cards for $55 each. The cards meet the federal Real ID standards and can be used to enter countries in North America.

Maine driver’s licenses don’t meet the Real ID standards, which may soon prevent their use for travelers at airports across the country. That’s an issue the Legislature is still considering.

In the meantime, though, the House voted 110-8 in favor of Golden’s solution for the southern Maine veterans who need help to continue to get medical services at the nearby air base. The Senate is likely to approve it Thursday.

“I have heard from several constituents who have lost access to the clinic at Pease,” said Rep. Deane Rykerson, D-Kittery, whose district borders New Hampshire. “Veterans who are receiving benefits from the VA shouldn’t be penalized for the actions of the Maine Legislature.”

Golden said the bill faces a final vote in the state Senate on Thursday, where it has the support of Sen. Garrett Mason, R-Lisbon Falls, the Senate Republican leader.

Golden talked with federal officials in recent weeks about how best to resolve the problem faced by the Maine veterans before settling on buying them passport cards.

If all of the veterans wind up needing a card, the solution could cost Maine taxpayers about $50,000. But chances are that at least some of the veterans already have passports or some other qualifying identification cards.

Golden said the bill shows that both parties can work together even though “many people think all we do is fight.”

“Finding solutions to problems like this one, doing something good to help people faced with a problem they didn’t create, is what makes public service worth doing,” Golden said.

“As a veteran myself, it’s always gratifying to see bipartisan support to help veterans in Maine,” he said, adding that he is “very appreciative of the work and support” from Mason and Reps. Brad Farrin, R-Norridgewock, and Louis Luchini, D-Ellsworth.

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