The headline was deceptive.  The end tells the real story. House and Senate have different versions, incompatible, and have provisions that the other chamber won't accept.  It sounds like getting Real ID is about as likely as solving the budget mess.  
What privacy?  We gave that away years ago.  Apply for one of those "trusted traveler" IDs from the feds and see just how much they know about your past and present life - the Feds & states must have digitized even handwritten records for last 100 years.  Go on the Internet and see just how fast the Ads pop up (on the ADN website) after you order something. I haven't paid for Financial monitoring in about 12 years - i get it free every time my personal data gets hacked.  In the 90s, i got a dvd from the state with every registered voter -  except SSN.
We just carry our passport, like most of the rest of the world, but even a passport is discriminatory to get as a Real ID.