In November 2012, American voters will head to the polls to decide who will serve in the White House for the next four years and which party or parties will control the House and Senate. In the midst of election-year politics and the continuing difficult economic situation, many issues of importance to the HR profession are at the forefront of consideration of the 112th Congress and the federal agencies. Key issues of focus include proposals to create a new mandatory employment verifi cation process, efforts to overhaul the recognition of unions in the collective bargaining process as well as proposals to amend current affi rmative action legal requirements for employers in regards to veterans, the disabled and others.