WASHINGTON -- A proposed rule that would force airlines to collect fingerprints and digital photos of foreign visitors leaving the United States unfairly burdens the already stressed industry, members of House panel said Wednesday.

The Department of Homeland Security suggested that the industry take responsibility for this data collection because the airlines already verify information on passports of visitors from Great Britain and other designated countries who do not hold visas.

But with the rising cost of fuel and the worsening economy, airlines are hemorrhaging money and can’t afford the estimated $12.3 billion bill for hardware and staffing, witnesses told a Homeland Security subcommittee on border security and counterterrorism.

Two representatives of the airline industry argued that the government should take on the burden of collecting the data since immigration enforcement and counter-terrorism tactics is Washington’s responsibility.

“It’s inherently a government function,” said Greg Principato, president of Airports Council International- North America.

Subcommittee members, sympathetic to the already struggling airlines, grilled the Homeland Security officials on alternatives.

“It doesn’t make sense that the airlines should take on the process,” said Rep. Jane Harman, D-Calif.

One alternative to the proposed rule would make the Homeland Security Department pay for software upgrades on existing kiosks, or use simple technology to get biometric data.

But the federal agency doesn’t have the money either, said Robert Mocny, director of the US-VISIT program..

The government, which will decide on a final rule in the fall, could decide to pay for the exit data-collection systems. In that event, Homeland Security officials will work with Congress to find themoney in 2009, according to department spokeswoman Anna Hinken.

New technology would be necessary because the biometric data – fingerprints and digital photographs -- is stored as an image and existing kiosks cannot transmit images, said Douglas Lavin, of the North America International Air Transport Association.

Federal law mandates the biometric data-collection system be completed by next June.

Under the United States Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology (US-VISIT) program, biometric information is collected, stored and transmitted for identity verification to ensure foreign visitors who enter and leave the U.S. under the Vis Waiver Program aren’t terrorists. The Visa Waiver allows visitors from certain countries, such as Great Britain or Japan, to enter the U.S. without a visa if they are visiting or on a business trip. There are already 119 U.S. airports that participate in US-VISIT as foreigners enter the U.S.

The Homeland Security Department wants the airlines to take responsibility for collecting the data as foreigners leave the U.S. because the airlines have the most control over the individual, Mocny said.

“(This is the) most efficient way to do it by 2009,” he said.

Acknowledging that airlines have to work within existing space in airports, Mocny said the federal government is “agnostic” as to where airlines locate the biometric data collection points – be they at airline check-in desks, boarding gates, check-in kiosks or online.