The bill was designed to save the life of Terri Schiavo, whose parents have fought for several years to keep her alive. Her husband, Michael Schiavo, says she would rather die.
Schiavo's feeding tube was removed by court order at her husband's insistence last Wednesday, and doctors have said the 39-year-old woman will die within a week to 10 days without food and water.
The Senate voted 23-15 for the legislation, and the House passed the final version 73-24 only minutes later. Bush signed it into law and issued the order just more than an hour later.
After the Senate's vote, a cheer went up among about 80 protesters outside Terri Schiavo's hospice in Pinellas Park.
``We are just ecstatic,'' Bob Schindler said after Bush told him he would issue the order. ``It's restored my belief in God.''
Suzanne Carr, Terri Schiavo's sister, called the development ``a miracle, an absolute miracle.'' Terri's mother broke down crying when she heard the news.
George Felos, a lawyer for Michael Schiavo, took steps to stop Bush even before the governor received the bill. He filed a request for an injunction if Bush issued an order. Pinellas Circuit Court Judge George Greer denied it on technical grounds, but said Felos could refile the request.
The family's lawyer, Pat Anderson, said Schiavo would have to be placed on an IV to rehydrate her before the feeding tube is reinserted.
