MONTGOMERY — Republican U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama has retained his committee assignments following his re-election to a third term.

The Republican leadership in the Senate announced the committee assignments Thursday.

Sessions kept his senior membership on the Senate Armed Services Committee. He also retained seats on the Judiciary, Energy, and Budget committees.

Sessions said the real work of Congress is often done in committees, and it is important to maintain seats on committees that have jurisdiction over important issues, particularly the Armed Services Committee.