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For the purposes of this chapter—

(a) The term “valuables” means any articles or things or representatives of value in which the United States has any interest, or in connection with which it has any obligation or responsibility, direct or indirect, and which are declared to be valuables within the meaning of this chapter by the Secretary of the Treasury. No articles or things shall be declared to be valuables by the Secretary of the Treasury unless he determines that replacement thereof in accordance with the procedure established herein, in the event of loss, destruction, or damage in the course of shipment, would be in the public interest. The term “United States” as used in this subsection and in section 725 of this title means the United States, its executive departments, independent establishments, and agencies, including wholly owned corporations, and officers and employees of any of the foregoing while acting in their official capacity.

(b) The term “shipment” means the transportation, or the effecting of transportation, of valuables, without limitation as to the means or facilities used or by which the transportation, is effected or the person to whom it is made, and includes, but is not limited to, shipments made to any executive department, independent establishment, agency, wholly or partly owned corporation, officer, or employee of the United States, or any person acting on his or its behalf or at his or its direction;

(c) The term “wholly owned corporation” means any corporation, regardless of the law or laws under which it is incorporated, the capital of which is entirely owned, directly or indirectly, by the United States, and includes the duly authorized officers, employees, and agents thereof;

(d) The term “replacement” means payment, reimbursement, replacement, or duplication or the expenses incident thereto.