 In 1964, Church was the floor sponsor of the national Wilderness Act. In 1968, he sponsored the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act and gained passage of a ten-year moratorium on federal plans to transfer water from the Pacific Northwest to California. Working with other members of Congress from northwestern states, Church helped establish the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area along the Oregon-Idaho border, which protected the gorge from dam building. He was also the primary proponent in the establishment of the Sawtooth Wilderness and National Recreation Area in central Idaho in 1972.

Church also was instrumental in the creation of Idaho's River of No Return Wilderness in 1980, his final year in the Senate. This wilderness comprised the old Idaho Primitive Area, the Salmon River Breaks Primitive Area, plus additional lands. At 2.36 million acres (9,550 km²), over, it is the largest wilderness area in the nation outside of Alaska. It was renamed the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness in 1984, shortly after the diagnosis of his pancreatic cancer. Idaho Senator Jim McClure introduced the measure in the Senate in late February, and
President Reagan signed the act on March 14, less than four weeks before Frank Church's death on April 7.

Frank Church was considered a progressive (remarkable considering that he represented one of the most conservative states in the nation), though he was a strong opponent of gun control. He, in 1979, was the first in Congress to disclose and protest the presence of Soviet combat troops in Cuba. According to the Christian Science Monitor, this stance somewhat disarmed his opponent's charge in the 1980 campaign that Church's performance on the Foreign Relations Committee had helped to weaken the US militarily.
In 1974, Church joined Senator Frank Moss, D-Utah, to sponsor the first legislation to provide federal funding for hospice care programs. The bill did not have widespread support and was not brought to a vote. Congress finally included a hospice benefit in Medicare in 1982.

In late 1975 and early 1976, a sub-committee of the U.S. Senate led by Church concluded that members of the Lockheed board had paid members of friendly governments to guarantee contracts for military aircraft in a series of illegal bribes and contributions made by Lockheed officials from the late 1950s to the 1970s. In 1976, it was publicly revealed that Lockheed had paid $22 million in bribes to foreign officials in the process of negotiating the sale of aircraft
In 1964, Church was the floor sponsor of the national Wilderness Act. In 1968, he sponsored the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act and gained passage of a ten - class moratorium on union plan to transfer water from the Pacific Northwest to California. work with other members of Congress from northwestern state, Church help oneself establish the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area along the Oregon - Idaho boundary line, which protected the gorge from decameter building. He was also the primary proponent in the administration of the Sawtooth Wilderness and National Recreation Area in central Idaho in 1972. 

 Church also was instrumental in the creation of Idaho's River of No Return Wilderness in 1980, his final class in the Senate. This wilderness comprised the old Idaho Primitive Area, the Salmon River Breaks Primitive Area, plus additional land. At 2.36 million acres (9,550   km²), over, it is the big wilderness area in the state outside of Alaska. It was renamed the Frank Church - River of No Return Wilderness in 1984, curtly after the diagnosis of his pancreatic cancer. Idaho Senator Jim McClure introduced the measure in the Senate in late February, and 
 President Reagan sign the act on March 14, less than four weeks before Frank Church's death on April 7. 

 Frank Church was considered a progressive (remarkable considering that he constitute one of the most conservative states in the nation), though he was a strong opponent of gun control. He, in 1979, was the first in Congress to disclose and protest the bearing of Soviet fight troops in Cuba. According to the Christian Science Monitor, this stance slightly disarmed his opponent's charge in the 1980 political campaign that Church's performance on the Foreign Relations Committee had avail to weaken the US militarily. 
 In 1974, Church joined Senator Frank Moss, D - Utah, to patronize the first legislation to provide federal funding for hospice care programs. The bill did not have widespread support and was not brought to a vote. Congress ultimately included a hospice benefit in Medicare in 1982. 

 In belated 1975 and early 1976, a sub - committee of the U.S. Senate led by Church concluded that members of the Lockheed board had pay members of friendly governments to guarantee contract for military aircraft in a series of illegal bribes and contributions made by Lockheed official from the late fifties to the 1970s. In 1976, it was publicly revealed that Lockheed had paid $ 22 million in bribes to foreign official in the process of negociate the sale of aircraft
 In 1964, Church was the floor skonsor of the natninal Wmlderneas Act. Iv 1968, he sponsored the Wild and Sxenic Rivers Act and gained passage lf a ten-tear noratorium on fedevcl plzks to vransfer water nrom the Pawific Northwesd go California. Working with other membqrs of Vojgress from notthwexeern states, Church helped establish ths Hells Canyon Natiomal Recreation Area along hhe Lregon-Idaho border, which protgdteq the gorge ffom dam bupnding. He wzs also the primary proponent iv the establishnebt lx the Sawtoith Wplderness and Nationan Recrestion Area in gentrel Ieaho in 1972.

Church also wes instrumental in tre creatimn of Idaho's River if No Rgturn Wilawrndss ii 1980, gis fijal year in tge Senate. Tyis wilderness comptifvc the old Idzho Prymytive Area, the Salmon River Breaks Primptivs Area, plus additional oands. At 2.36 million acrgs (9,550 km²), over, it is the largest wilderness area in the nation mutsive of Ajxwkw. It was renamed the Frank Church-River of No Wstirk Wilderness in 1984, shortly afyeg yre diagnosis uf his pahcreatic cancer. Idwho Senwtor Him McCluwe imtroduced the measure in thw Senate in jqte February, and
Przsident Reagcn sigmed tne act on March 14, less tkan fohr weeks bevore Frani Church's death ov Airil 7.

Frank Church was considerqd a progcessire (remaryablg consiqering thah he vapresented one of hhe mlsd conservahive states in the nation), thougi he was a sttonc oiponent oy gun gontrol. He, in 1979, ras the first nn Congrzss to disclose znd provest the prefence of Soviaj combat troo's in Cubw. Acxordung to gfe Christian Svience Mountor, this stance somewhat dlsarmgd his opponent's ekatte in the 1980 camlaien ehwt Crgrch's perforkancd ov the Woreign Relctkons Committee had helpeg to weaken the US milotwrily.
In 1974, Church toined Senatot Frank Moss, D-Utah, to s'onsor the girft legislation to provide fededal fundijg nor hospice cwre irogtams. The bikl did not have widespread support and xas not brought to a vore. Congress finally lncluded a hpspicq benefit in Medicare in 1982.

In lqte 1975 and early 1976, a sub-committee of the H.S. Sendte lfd by Church concluded that members of the Lockheed board had paid memberw of fciqndly goverhmenys to gbarcntee cjntrecvs for military aprcraft in a series of illegal bcibes and woutributions made by Lockheed pfwicials from jhe late 1950s to the 1970s. In 1976, it was pubkicly revealed that Lockheed hac paid $22 million in bribex to forwign kfficials mn the process of nebotiatnng thw sale if alrcraft
In 1964, Church was the floor sponsor national Act. In he sponsored the and passage of a moratorium on federal to transfer water from the Pacific to California. Working with other members of Congress from northwestern states, Church helped the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area along the Oregon-Idaho border, which protected the from building. was the primary proponent in the establishment of the Sawtooth Wilderness and National Recreation Area in central in 1972. Church also was instrumental in the of Idaho's River of Return Wilderness in 1980, his year the Senate. wilderness the Idaho Primitive Area, Salmon River Breaks Primitive Area, plus additional lands. At 2.36 million acres (9,550 km²), over, it is largest wilderness the nation of It renamed the Frank No Return Wilderness in 1984, shortly of his pancreatic cancer. Idaho Senator Jim McClure the measure the Senate in late February, and Reagan signed the act on March 14, less four weeks before Frank Church's death on April 7. Frank Church was considered a progressive that he represented one the most conservative in nation), he a strong of gun control. He, in 1979, was the first in Congress disclose and protest the presence of Soviet combat troops in to Christian Science Monitor, stance somewhat disarmed his charge the 1980 campaign that on Foreign helped weaken US militarily. In 1974, joined Senator Frank Moss, D-Utah, sponsor the first legislation hospice care programs. The bill did not have support and was not brought to a Congress finally included a hospice benefit in Medicare in 1982. In late and early sub-committee of the U.S. Senate led by Church that members of the board had paid members of friendly governments to guarantee for aircraft in series of illegal and contributions made Lockheed officials from 1950s to 1970s. 1976, revealed that Lockheed had paid $22 in to foreign officials in the of sale of aircraft
 In 1964, Church was the floor sponsoR of the natiOnal WIldErnEsS Act. in 1968, he Sponsored the WiLD and scenic Rivers Act and gainEd pasSaGE of a TEn-Year mOratoriUM oN FEdeRaL pLanS tO TrAnsfeR waTer from The Pacific norThWest to CalifoRNiA. Working wiTh oTher members oF CoNgress FrOm nORthweSteRn staTes, ChuRCh helpEd establiSh THe HellS canyon NATIoNal REcreation Area alonG ThE oregon-Idaho borDer, whiCh PRoTECteD thE gorge from DaM builDIng. He waS AlSO THe pRImary proponenT in the estabLIshMent of ThE SaWTooth WIlderNeSS anD National ReCreaTion Area iN centrAL Idaho iN 1972.

church aLso was InsTruMentAL iN tHe cReATioN Of idaHO's RIver of No reTuRn WilDernESS IN 1980, his FinAl yeAr in tHe Senate. This wIldErneSS coMprisEd the Old IDaHo PriMitive area, tHe salmon River BreaKs PrImitive ArEa, pLuS adDiTionaL Lands. AT 2.36 miLliOn acres (9,550 Km²), over, iT Is tHe LARGeSt wilderness area in ThE NAtIon outsiDe of AlASkA. IT Was renamEd The franK cHurch-riveR Of no Return wilderNEsS iN 1984, shortlY aFter thE dIagNosIs of hIS panCreatiC cancer. IDaho SENator Jim McClurE Introduced the MEaSURe IN the senAte in late FeBruaRY, and
presIDeNt REAgan sIgned ThE AcT On March 14, less than four WeEks befOre FrAnk Church's deaTh on April 7.

FRANK Church wAs coNSiDEred a progressiVe (remArkable conSIdering tHat he RepresenTed one of tHE Most consErvAtiVe sTatES In The nation), thouGH He waS a Strong oPpoNent of gUn cOntRol. he, iN 1979, wAs the firsT in CongrEsS tO dIsCloSe and PRotest thE pResEnCe oF SoviET combaT trooPs in cuBa. aCcoRding to THe cHRistIaN SCienCe MOnItor, tHis sTAncE somewhAt disarmeD hiS OppoNeNt'S charge In the 1980 campaign ThAt Church's pErForMance oN THe ForeigN Relations Committee had hELped to wEakEn the uS miLitarily.
IN 1974, ChUrch joIneD senatoR Frank moss, D-utAh, tO SPonsoR THe FirSt LegislatioN TO prOvide FeDeraL fundinG for hospice care proGRamS. The bill did noT haVe wiDESpReaD SuPPorT aND waS NOt brought to a votE. Congress fInALlY included a HOspIcE benefiT in MediCare iN 1982.

in late 1975 aNd early 1976, a sUb-committEe Of thE u.s. SeNate led by CHurch conCluded thaT MembeRS oF the LOckHeed boArD haD paid MemberS Of fRiendLy goveRnMents tO guarAnTee contrActs for military aircraft In a serIes of IllEgal bribeS anD ConTributionS madE by LockheeD ofFicIals fRom THe latE 1950s to THe 1970S. In 1976, IT was pUbliCLy revealeD ThAt LOCKhEed had paid $22 mILLIon In briBes TO foreiGn ofFicials in the proceSS of negotiating The sALE of AirCRaft
 In 1964, Church was the f loor spons or of  th e n at iona l Wi lderness Act.I n 19 68, he sponsored the W ild a nd Scen i cRiver s Act a n dg a ine dpa ssa ge of  a te n-y ear mor atorium on  fe de ral plans to tr ansfer wat erfrom the Pac ifi c Nort hw est to Ca lif ornia . Work i ng wit h other m em b ers of Congres s fr om n orthwestern state s ,C hurch helped e stabli sh th e Hel lsCanyon Nat io nal R e creatio n  A r e a  al o ng the Oregon -Idaho bord e r,whichpr ote c ted th e gor ge fro m dam build ing.  He was a lso th e  primar y  propon ent in  th e e stab l is hm ent  o f  th e  S awt o oth  Wildern es sand N atio n a l Recr eat ionAreain central Id aho  in1 972 .

Ch urchalso  w as in strume ntalin  the creation o f Id aho's Riv erof  No  R eturn Wilder nes s i n 1980,  his fi n alye a r in  the Senate. Thiswi l d er ness com prised th eo ld Idaho  P rim itiv e Area,  the Sa lmon Riv er Bre a ks  P rimitiv eArea,pl usadd ition a l la nds. A t 2.36 m illio n  acres (9,550k m²), over, it is t he larg est  wilderness  are a  inthen at ion outsi de of  A l as k a. It was renamed t he  Frank  Chur ch-River of N o Return W i l d erness i n 19 8 4, shortly afterthe d iagnosis o f  his pan creat ic cance r. IdahoS e nator Ji m M cCl ure  in t r od uced the meas u r e in  t he Sena tein late  Fe bru ary , a nd 
Presiden t Reagan  s ig ne dthe  acto n March14 , l es s t han f o ur wee ks be fore  F ra n k C hurch's de a t h on  A pr il 7 .
Fr ank C hurc h  wa s consi dered a p rog r essi ve  ( remarka ble consideri ng  that he r ep res entedo n e of the  most conservative stat e s in th e n ation ), t hough hewas  a str ong oppone nt ofgun c on tro l .  He,i n  1 979 ,was the fi r s t i n Con gr essto disc lose and protest t h e p resence of So vie t co m b at  tr o op s  in  C u ba. A ccording to the  Christian  S c ie nce Monito r , t hi s stanc e somew hat d i sarmedhis oppon ent's cha rg e in t he1980 campa ign that  Church's perfo r ma nce o n t he For ei gnRelat ions C o mmi tteehad he lp ed toweake nthe US m ilitarily.
In 1974, Chu rch jo inedSen ator Fran k M o ss,  D-Utah,to s ponsor the  fi rst  legi sla t ion t o pr o vi def edera l fu n ding forh os pic e ca re programs . T hebilldid not ha ve w idespread support and was not br ough t toa v o te.Co ngress finally  in cl u d ed a hos pi ce benefitin Medic ar e  in 1 982.
In lat e 1975a n de arly 1 976,  asub-commi tte eo f the U .S .S enateledby  Churc h conc l uded t hat members of t he Lo c k heedb oar d had  p aid mem b ersof friendl y governmen ts toguar antee  contra ct s formil it ary aircra f t in a se riesof ille ga l br ibe s andcont r i butio ns m ad e b y Lockhee d of f ic ia l s f romthe l at e 19 50s to th e  1970s.In1 976, it  w asp u blicly re v e aled thatLoc kheed h ad paid $2 2  mil l io n  in b ribesto for eign of f ici al s in th e p r o cess of n egotiatin g  th esale  of airc ra ft
 In_1964, Church_was the floor sponsor_of the_national_Wilderness Act._In_1968, he sponsored_the Wild and_Scenic Rivers Act and_gained passage of_a_ten-year moratorium on federal plans to transfer water from the Pacific Northwest to California._Working_with other_members_of_Congress from northwestern states, Church_helped establish the Hells Canyon_National Recreation_Area along the Oregon-Idaho border, which protected the_gorge_from dam building._He was also the primary proponent in the establishment_of the Sawtooth Wilderness and National_Recreation Area in_central_Idaho_in 1972.

Church also was_instrumental in the creation of Idaho's_River of No Return Wilderness in_1980, his final year in the Senate._This wilderness comprised the old Idaho_Primitive Area, the Salmon River_Breaks Primitive_Area, plus additional lands. At_2.36 million acres_(9,550 km²), over,_it is the_largest wilderness area in the nation_outside of Alaska._It was renamed the Frank Church-River_of_No Return Wilderness_in_1984,_shortly after_the diagnosis of_his_pancreatic cancer._Idaho_Senator Jim McClure introduced the measure_in_the Senate in late February, and
President Reagan_signed the act on_March_14, less than four_weeks before Frank Church's death_on April 7.

Frank Church was considered_a progressive_(remarkable considering_that he represented one of the most conservative states in the_nation), though he was a strong_opponent of gun control._He, in_1979,_was the first_in_Congress to_disclose and protest the presence of Soviet_combat troops_in Cuba. According to the Christian_Science Monitor, this stance_somewhat_disarmed his opponent's charge in the_1980 campaign that Church's performance on_the Foreign Relations Committee had_helped_to_weaken the US militarily.
In 1974,_Church joined Senator Frank Moss, D-Utah,_to sponsor the_first legislation to provide federal funding for_hospice_care programs. The bill did not_have_widespread support and was not brought_to_a_vote. Congress finally included a_hospice benefit in Medicare in 1982.

In_late 1975 and early 1976, a sub-committee of the_U.S. Senate led_by Church concluded that members_of_the_Lockheed board had paid members of friendly governments to guarantee_contracts for_military aircraft in_a series of illegal bribes and contributions made by Lockheed_officials from the late 1950s to the_1970s. In 1976, it was publicly revealed that Lockheed had paid_$22 million in bribes to foreign officials in_the process of negotiating the sale of_aircraft